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Growing Asparagus

(Aspargus officianalis)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
							P	P	P	P

(Best months for planting Asparagus in Australia - temperate regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

August: frost tender

Easy to grow. Sow in garden, or plant as crowns. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 16°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 20 - 40 cm apart
Harvest in 2-3 years. Plant 'crowns' to harvest earlier.
Compatible with: Parsley, Basil, Nasturtiums, Lettuce
Avoid growing with: Garlic, Onions

Seedlings (approx 6cm/3in)

Seeds will take 2-3 years before maturing into crowns. Plant crowns (roots) 20-40cm apart and a few cm (1 inch) deep in well manured soil. The asparagus shoots grow in spring. Harvest the shoots which are bigger than 1-2cm/half-inch in diameter. Leave the rest to grow into the leafy ferns (1.5m/5-6ft tall) which will feed the crowns to give a crop next year. In autumn the ferns will be covered in bright red poisonous berries. Leave the ferns to die down in autumn, then trim off the dead stalks and pile on plenty of rotted manure/compost to give the roots plenty of food to produce new stems in spring.

Harvest by cutting off the stalk, close to the ground. From the second or third year you can get an additional crop by letting the first lot of ferns grow, then bending down the stalks to break them. A second crop of shoots will grow and can be harvested. Leave subsequent shoots to grow on to ferns.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Asparagus

Steaming is traditional, then coating with melted butter or hollandaise sauce.
Alternatively break in short lengths, and cook quickly in hot oil in a wok and sprinkle with soy sauce or balsamic vinegar.

NOTE: The asparagus berries are poisonous. Only the young shoots are edible.

Your comments and tips

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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08 Oct 11, trudy (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I can attest to the compatability between pasley and asparagus. The parsley growing in and around the Asparagus beds - Asparagus is 3 years onle and the pasley self seeding after 2 years - is the healthiest and strongest of the parsely plantings that I have. (tas)
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03 Sep 11, lainie (Australia - temperate climate): what is the depth for a asparagus if you are using a pot
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30 Jul 11, ARTHUR (Australia - temperate climate): 13 Jul John thanks for the info I have now received a cat.. garden express. The spears are showing all ready and plenty of them.Thanks again Arthur
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30 Jun 11, ARTHUR (Australia - temperate climate): I iive in Kingsley Perth.Can any one help me? I like to buy one asparagus crown. Ive try all places local with out success. ARTHUR
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13 Jul 11, john (Australia - temperate climate): Garden Express Monbulk Vic www.gardenexpress.com
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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