Growing Asparagus

Aspargus officianalis : Asparagaceae / the asparagus family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
        T              

(Best months for growing Asparagus in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Easy to grow. Plant as crowns. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 16 inches apart
  • Harvest in 2-3 years. Plant 'crowns' to harvest earlier .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Parsley, Basil, Nasturtiums, Lettuce
  • Avoid growing close to: Garlic, Onions, and root vegetables

Your comments and tips

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23 Aug 12, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I was told that asparagus was a shoreline plant originally, hence the supposed saline affection. All I have done is mulch with unwashed seaweed from the beach. This provides excellent nutrition and so far so good. I'd be careful about adding salt, and seaweed seems the perfect solution.
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27 Dec 11, Mary (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am a first time grower and am preparing the ground with compost only in a mound.what else should I add? SHEEP MANURE OR CHOOK.DO THEY LIKE LIME?
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15 Apr 12, Trudy Franklin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Asparagus prefers a high ph of 7.0, so my gardening books state, so yes liming likely will be needed. Can you test the ph of your soil? I give mine horse manure and sheep pellets - I have no source for hen poo, but I cannot see any reason why that would not be good for them.
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23 Nov 11, Lucien Lowe (Australia - temperate climate)
I have eight Asparagus plants in the corners of my 3metre x 1.5metre vege garden beds. I bought them as seedlings from Bunnings and they have been growing well for the last twelve months or so and still doing well. I have harvested lots of spears so far, but now I am thinking of transplanting my plants all into one bed. Can I cut the plant into two and plant them without destroying the plant? At the moment they are well ferned up and look quite healthy and strong. Also is it too late to do this now coming into December? Thanks, Lucien.
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20 Oct 11, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
What pest would not only nibble through the delicate seedling Asparagus frond but eat every bit of green? On checking this morning there is NO sign of any frond left and there is no soil disturbance on the surface of the big pot? I am still speaechless... Any ideas outhere and what do I do now, wait and hope for more fronds to grow OR compost the lot??? and yes should you be wondering I am the same gardener who submitted the previous question and mistakenly clicked on NZ but this is the correct location, I am in Tasmania..\
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23 Oct 11, Rowena (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Perhaps cutworm? They do eat the entire plant if it's tender enough :O) I got the following advice from the Yates website and it worked for me: Cutworms are only active at night, so go out after dark with a torch and check for caterpillars at work.Prevent cutworm attack by placing small, open-ended plastic cups around plants or by wrapping plant bases with aluminium foil. (Start just below the surface of the soil).
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16 Oct 11, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
For the fist time I recently purchased some seedlings of Asparagus, planted them into deep 420 cm HDPE pot and now read that they take 3 years before harvest? If this is true what is the quantity of one seedling at havest time?? One spear of Asparagus Or more??? And does it really take 3 years from seedling stage with 3 fronds? And what happens with the soil in a pot, all Ican do is top it up with say cow manure or similar suitalbe manure / compost mixes? Any help is appreciated as this is my first time growin Asparagus Thank you Jen (Tas)
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24 Oct 11, JOSEPH (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Please check the info on this and other sites as there is so much to learn about asparagus. These plants are the ultimate gross feeders, they love fertiliser and water It will last up to 25 to 30 years if looked after properly. I believe that you only harvest the spears from the male plant and the female one's produce berries. Please contact me if you any more queries. I am in Burnie. Joe
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09 Oct 11, Ali Mofazali (USA - Zone 8b climate)
What is the best way to grow asparagus in Georgia USA?
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15 Jan 14, Debbie Schwitzer (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I planted 3 yr old crowns that I bought online ( have done this in two homes in same county) and they have come up sparsely every year. They have spread slightly and most of the spears have gotten smaller in diameter. I believe I did not pick the best site for them so I am digging them up this month and replanting them next month in better area. Since they do grow consistently every year with little to no care where they are, I figure a better site would have them producing at least enough for one meal for 2 people!
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The transplanted ones will depend on how they were treated last year - whether they were left to build up energy reserves for this year. If you had plenty of spears grow into ferns then they should produce this year. Probably also depends how old the old crowns are. Last year while I was growing mine from 12 mth crowns to 24 mths I use to put about half a cup of fert in 9 L of water and feed them each month - only had 3 crowns. I also put manure/compost on in august. I have crowns that are coming up to 3 years old - that is from when seeds were planted - they have been shooting spears for a few weeks now - I have cut them back and manured and watered them. My seedlings which will be 12 mths old in Sept - I have not cut them back yet or put manure on them yet - will probably do that in about two weeks time. I have not watered them for the last month - they are not growing at the moment. As for manure - chicken is the richest in N followed by cow and then horse manure. I read the other day horse is about 1.75% N. Whatever manure you can get and add some fert if you like. We have had only one week of cool weather so far this winter - that is night temps down to 6-8 degrees.

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