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 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 (can grow beside): Parsley, Basil, Nasturtiums, Lettuce
  • Avoid growing close to: Garlic, Onions, and root vegetables
  • Asparagus growing
  • Baby Asparagus Seedlings (approx 6cm/3in) ((c) Liz Hutchinson)

Plant crowns (roots) 20 - 40 cm 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 - 2 cm/half-inch in diameter. Leave the rest to grow into the leafy ferns (1.5 m/5 - 6 ft 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 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. Asparagus does not like continuously wet and warm soil. It grows better where there is a cool or frosty season.

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

15 Aug 24, Colin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Planted Mary Washington 6yrs ago (from Bunnings). Is a female plant. Producing thin stalks. Where in Australia can I buy a male asparagus plant. As far as I know, males are used for commercial crops. So far, even nurserymen can't help. Anyone?
03 Sep 24, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Bunnings sell asparagus this time of the year. I'm no expert but I don't think you can tell until the have grown for a year or so.
25 Aug 24, MIke (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try Bunnings - they usually sell this time of the year. Buy 3-6 crowns. One plant won't supply enough spears.
05 Aug 24, Bill (USA - Zone 9b climate)
What is the best asparagus variety to plant in a raised bed? I live about 1.5 miles from the ocean in ZZrroyo Grande, CA.
02 Aug 24, Janette Dunn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What is the best variety to grow in Katherine, NT? I have never grown asparagus before.
06 Aug 24, (Australia - tropical climate)
Whatever you can buy - green or purple.
02 Jul 24, Tasha (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Best hybrid asparagus for Southwest Louisiana zone 9a
28 Jun 24, Jean Hamrick (USA - Zone 8a climate)
I live in Greenville SC. Zone 8a. When can I plant asparagus crowns that are three years old ?
04 May 24, Jimmy O (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Can I plant my crowns in Early May or do I need to wait until the fall
19 May 24, Melinda (USA - Zone 8a climate)
If you take care to water and watch for pests like fire ants etc... You could actually put crowns in anytime in months that have workable soil in your proposed asparagus beds... they take a long time to harvest when you first put them in so I suggest getting them in ASAP if you have some waiting. They do quite well here in part shade (Pitt County, NC) and they are VERY forgiving and productive. We have the purple asparagus and it puts out shoots ongoing from early spring and sporadically though hot summer... mostly goes to fern mode in hot weather but still will make occasional shoots out of the norm. As long as you fan out the roots as much as possible and plant them properly they should be fine.
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