By Amber Guetebier | Updated Jul 27, 2022 11:30 AM
If walking through the farmers’ market gives you garden envy, then you know the joy and satisfaction of growing your own veggies. And while you may have mastered growing sweet peas or tomatoes, growing your own asparagus might be the next notch in your gardening belt. Because the plant is perennial and not ready for harvest right away, growing it is a lesson in patience, but that patience comes with a big reward.
If grown properly, fresh asparagus will be gracing your plate for years to come. Here are some tips on the best way to grow asparagus for your garden.
RELATED: 12 Climbing Vegetables That Are Perfect for Compact Gardens
Common Name: Asparagus Scientific Name: Asparagus officinalis Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 to 9 Soil: Rich, quick-draining soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7 Light: Full sun Water: Regular water Food: Feed once in spring and again after harvest Propagation: Start seeds indoors or propagate from crowns Safety: Berries produced by female plants in summer are inedible
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is unique among veggies because it is one of only a few perennial vegetables. Asparagus spears aren’t ready to harvest until 2 years after planting the asparagus from crowns—1-year-old plant buds and roots—or 3 years after planting asparagus from seed. The edible part of the asparagus plants are the spears, which emerge in springtime from the underground crowns.
A fully grown asparagus plant can live 15 years or even longer, so these edibles require more space and time commitment than the average annual vegetable. But once you learn how to grow asparagus, it is well worth the effort to add them to your vegetable garden.
Once established, asparagus can grow up to 2 inches a day, yielding weeks of delicious, nutritious spears. After harvest, asparagus begin to produce leaves known as ferns, which are quite attractive. These ferns provide energy to the underground buds and roots for next year’s crops. Asparagus plants are dioecious, which means there are both male and female plants. Both are edible, but female plants will produce small, inedible berries in the summer. Female asparagus plants also tend to produce larger spears, whereas male spears are more prolific and the plants live longer.
Because asparagus plants can grow for 15 years or longer, choosing the right spot for your asparagus is important. Most gardeners plant asparagus from crowns directly into their permanent bed; however, they can also be grown from seed.
RELATED: 14 of the Fastest-Growing Houseplants for a Nearly Instant Indoor Garden
In areas with mild winters, asparagus can be planted in fall or early winter. In areas with cold winters, it should be planted in early spring, usually April or May, when the soil can be worked and after the danger of frost has passed.
If starting asparagus from seed directly in the garden, choose a sunny spot that will serve as an asparagus nursery, with enriched soil that can be kept moist and free of weeds. The crowns can be transplanted to a permanent bed the following spring.
If planting asparagus crowns, pick a sunny place in your garden where they can grow successfully and undisturbed, with compost-rich, well-draining soil. Asparagus have deep roots and the crowns grow both vertically and horizontally, so having enough space for your plants is key. Each plant can grow 1 to 3 feet wide and will require 10 to 12 inches’ depth of good, rich soil. For this reason, raised garden beds make an excellent spot for asparagus.
Companion planting for asparagus can include any other sun-loving vegetables, but keep in mind that asparagus ferns can grow between 3 and 8 feet tall. These ferns should not be cut back while green, so be sure the asparagus bed isn’t shading out other veggies in the summer.
RELATED: What Is Companion Planting and How to Use It in Your Home Garden
When it comes to how to plant asparagus, there are two ways: from crowns or from seed. Both can be sown directly into the ground. Seeds started indoors 2 to 3 months before the last spring frost should be ready for planting in either a temporary bed where they can grow until the following spring, or directly into the ground in their permanent spot in the garden.
If planting from seed:
Asparagus doesn’t do well in small pots or containers. However, there are a variety of DIY vegetable gardens with raised beds where asparagus will thrive. The key is to make sure the bed has at least 2 feet of soil depth and is as long as the number of plants you wish to grow. For example, if you want to plant six plants, the bed should be at least 6 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide.
Established asparagus plants like regular, consistent water, but be careful not to overwater them. Water deeply whenever the soil dries out at root depth, which is usually several inches below the soil. For new plants and seedlings, water more frequently, when soil is dry 2 to 3 inches below the soil.
Asparagus plants can grow in medium-to-sandy soil, and heavy clay soils should be amended. Asparagus doesn’t like acidic soil. Before the spears start to emerge in early spring, apply a fertilizer that has both phosphorus and potassium. An all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10, will also work. After harvest in later summer, fertilize again with a mix that is higher in nitrogen (the first number should be higher than the other two).
RELATED: How to Test Soil pH
Prune according to the stages of growing asparagus. Do not cut back the ferns while green because they are gathering energy and nutrients for the roots; cutting off the ferns is like cutting off their food supply. Cut ferns back to about 2 inches in the late fall once all of the ferns have gone brown or yellow.
Asparagus can be propagated from seed. An established (female) plant will produce red berries, which can be harvested before the first frost. These berries are inedible but can be crushed to extract their asparagus seeds, which should then be soaked to remove any flesh from the berry, dried out, and saved to plant the following spring. Asparagus seeds are also available at garden centers and nurseries. Since asparagus seeds can take up to 3 weeks to germinate, those in areas with colder winters and shorter growing seasons may want to start the seeds indoors.
Asparagus cannot be harvested until after the second year of growth, so many gardeners prefer to plant the crowns directly. As asparagus become more established, the plants can also be propagated by division. Dig the root up in late fall after the ferns have died back, and cut the root into several pieces. Plant the asparagus right away before the first frost or save it in a cool, dry place until the following spring.
RELATED: 12 Little-Known Tricks to Make This Year’s Vegetable Garden a Success
Female plants produce red berries in summer. These berries are toxic to humans, so be sure to keep small children and pets away from the asparagus growing in a bed when the plants are fruiting. Just a few berries can cause vomiting and indigestion. If harvesting seeds from the berries, it’s best to wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterward.
If your asparagus spears appear to have brown spots and scarring, or if the shoots bend over, they may be victims of asparagus beetles. Yellow or orange spots on asparagus stems may be asparagus rust, while purple spots on the spears or light-brown and purple spots on the stems is called Stemphylium, or purple spot. Another common disease is fusarium crown rot, a fungus that stunts growth, turns the crowns brown, and causes leaves to yellow before autumn.
Asparagus can be harvested either the third year after planting from seed or the second year after planting from crowns. For example, if you plant crowns in April, the following April you will not harvest. Continue to care for the asparagus plants throughout the year, and the second spring and summer you can begin to harvest sparingly.
It’s best to harvest asparagus early in the season while the spears are tender. Harvest spears when they are 6 to 8 inches long. The first year of harvest, pick asparagus sparingly and only for the first 2 weeks or so of growth. Let the ferns grow in and strengthen the plants.
If the plants are not robust, wait to harvest in the third year, giving plants even more time to strengthen underground. Some gardeners will only harvest the first month of the third year to give the plants more time to grow.
Once the plants have matured enough to harvest, your patience will finally be rewarded. Wondering how to cut asparagus? Use a clean, sharp kitchen knife or pair of scissors for smaller plants.
For maximum flavor and nutrients, asparagus is best eaten within 1 week of picking. Store asparagus in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Asparagus can also be frozen shortly after harvesting in freezer bags. Be sure asparagus is rinsed and dried completely before freezing, and it can be cut into smaller pieces before freezing.
Looking for more edible plants to grow? Check out our guides on growing potatoes, cucumbers, and peas.
Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Copyright © 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved.