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

27 Jul 20, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
my asparagus plant is on its 3rd season since being transplanted...this winter the ferns appear to have died. there's 3ferns left and I've supported them. What I'm asking is it looks dead...any advice??
22 Mar 21, Simone (New Zealand - temperate climate)
The ferns do die, asparagus will send shoots up in warmer weather aka springtime, it's like strawberries, dies down over winter but roots are still alive and come back in springtime :-)
27 Jul 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Depends how much water you have put on over the last 2-3 months. The plant goes into dormancy in winter and the ferns die back later autumn/winter. Wait until late August and give it some fertiliser, put 100mm of compost on top and start watering it. It should start sending up spears after that. If not it might be dead. Google about growing asparagus.
25 Jul 20, Leanne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi all! I have just received my asparagus crowns. I’m concerned now that the bed I’ve chosen won’t be right for them. It gets full afternoon sun in summer and can get quite hot with no shade? Advice would be greatly appreciated :)
27 Jul 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My plants are in full sun most of the day 6am to 6pm in summer, Bundaberg Qld. We had a lot of hot weather the last summer, had no problems. Give them a good watering each week if no rain in summer.
24 Jul 20, SueEllen LePage (Australia - temperate climate)
I am currently growing white asparagus and the plants are in their 3rd year. It is winter and the asparagus is giving me some large spears that I have harvested and eaten. I am leaving the smaller spears. Now that the smaller spears are growing into ferns, should I continue to cut the larger spears or should I leave them all to grow? Also I always thought asparagus was a spring crop, why am I getting such a crop?
27 Jul 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Why a crop this time of year, probably because you have kept watering them. I did that establishing my asparagus the first two years. I'm sub-tropical and I stop watering mine the end of April, just the odd watering, not heavy, we have had very little rain since mid March. I actually cut my ferns yesterday, will not fertilise, compost and water until the end of August. I only eat my asparagus for about 5 weeks last year in the spring. But I cut my ferns off in Jan and had about 3-4 weeks of spears before letting them fern again. If the crown is biggish 9-12
06 Aug 20, Diane (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi i have just moved to Gladstone and i have always tried to grow Asparagus however i am never in a place long enough to eat any of it. i was told to wait until the ferns have gone yellow before you cut them down is this a fact or fiction. thanks
24 Jun 20, Alice (Australia - temperate climate)
I have bought some asparagus crowns and grew them yesterday, should I take them out and leave them until August?
25 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You could take them out of the soil. If you leave in the soil don't water them much. They won't start sending up spears until August-Sept.
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