Growing Asparagus

Aspargus officianalis : Asparagaceae / the asparagus family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
              P P P P  

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

  • P = Plant crowns

August: frost tender

  • 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

Your comments and tips

06 Feb 19, Teia (New Zealand - temperate climate)
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.
08 Aug 08, lou (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
how often do you feed asparagus and how do they like the soil.
20 Jul 08, Liz (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Dis, your asparagus spears will be ready to cut when they are about 20-25cm (8-10in) high. Cut with a sharp knife, don't pull, close to the ground. Only take a few this year and leave most of them to turn into leafy fronds (fern) as that will increase your plants for next year. Once planted, a well cared for asparagus bed should keep going for many years. Remember to feed well.
18 Jul 08, Dis (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted three year old Asparagus crowns and they have just broken through. When can I use them?
04 May 08, zoran (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
how do i get a packet off asparagus seeds or a seedling
Showing 581 - 585 of 585 comments

Dear Margaret, I just found your comment to Peter about Asparagus...... >This past week Ihave for the first time planted 2 seedlings of Asparagus with about 3 delicate fronds, but as I may be moving in the next year I planted them into a deep 420 cm HDPE pot with good potting mix, sheep and alpaca Dolomite and B&B... I did not know then that it takes 3 years till harvest!!! Do you know or have an opinion if I can transplat the seedlings into the ground at a later date, or should I just plant them out now and forget about taking them with me??? You seem to have had a lot of experience so I hope you don't mind my beginner question Kind regards Jen

- Jen

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