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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18 Nov 16, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
Keep going Lynne but make sure you have some spears going to seed for next year, let 6 or so go and then take any that come up after that.
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18 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Normally you stop harvesting asparagus spears to allow tops to grow to regenerate the crowns for next season. if your soil is well built up with manure you could probably sneak a few more but don't jeopardise next seaasons crop.
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05 Oct 16, Carmela (Australia - arid climate)
Which is correct, that male asparagus spears are fatter than female ones or the other way about? Thank you.
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03 Jul 16, carly (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Ruth, If you are still looking at asparagus crowns, The Diggers Club in Dromana has them. We were there last weekend and they had 3 varieties of crowns- Fat Bastard, Purple and Mary Washington. They do post also. Carly
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14 May 16, Anne (Australia - temperate climate)
I was given some asparagus ferns by our neighbour some months ago and want to plant them in the garden. They are about 8 inches tall. Can i plant them now? What are the soil requirements?
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14 Apr 16, ruth brillantes (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I live in Melbourne and I want plant asparagus. Where can I buy seedlings or crowns and when is the best time/ month to plant. Thanks, Ruth
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09 Sep 16, sandra (Australia - temperate climate)
The reject shop and aldi have crowns atm.
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19 Aug 16, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Plant August - Oct. Probably later in the cooler climates. For soil I used 1/3 good loam/ red soil - 1/3 composted grass clippings and 1/3 horse manure. A couple of good handfuls of general garden fertilizer every 6 weeks until Feb. I have three plants in a box 5' x 2'. My crowns grew from 1 1/2" to approx. 10" in the first year. They started shooting new stalks a week ago. Weather has been quite warm 23-25c.
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05 Aug 16, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I bought some at Bunnings - cost about $8-9 each
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13 May 16, Gaz (Australia - arid climate)
I bought some from 'Bunnings' June last year, hoping to do the same again this year if they have it...cheers.
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Showing 211 - 220 of 338 comments
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Hi Andrew. I bought my first packet of 5 one year old Asparagus crowns from Mitre 10 in Hastings in 2 Sep 2016. I bought another packet of 5 crowns from The Warehouse in Hastings on 25 August 2017. I planted and fed them in accordance with the instructions on the packets and have had my first feed of Asparagus on 21 Sep 2018 (from the 2016 plants). My husband and 2 children then had their first feed on 15 Oct 2018. We harvested our asparagus until 21 Nov 2018 and then let them go to fern. We did not touch the 2017 plants at all but will be able to eat them in spring 2019 until early November and also be able to eat as much as we can from our 2016 plants with continued harvest through to the middle or end of December at least.

- Teia

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