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 USA - Zone 7a regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • 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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20 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
From seed to a crown 1.5 to 2
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22 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - arid climate)
I will try again. Plant seed - one year old - a crown 1.5 - 2 inches. Two years old a few spears - pick a few thicker than a pencil - leave the one thinner than a pencil. Three years old you have a reasonable crop.
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08 Aug 18, June Dunn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My asparagus is now two years old and already shooting. Should I crop and eat or leave alone and also should I put manure and compost on now before spring. Thanks
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10 Aug 18, (Australia - tropical climate)
They say at 2 y o leave the ones thinner than a pencil - pick the bigger ones. Put the compost manure on now. Lay off the watering from end of May early June to allow the ferns to dry back a bit. Then in August cut the ferns and put the compost on and start watering Sept.
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20 Jul 18, Tony (Australia - temperate climate)
Our asparagus spears are shooting out already in Gisborne is it normal this time of the year? Tony
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23 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you water them they will shoot in winter. Mine did last year and I didn't have many spears in Spring. I stopped watering the end of April this year. Cut the old dying ferns off about two weeks ago. Will put horse manure and compost on them mid August and start watering start of Sept.
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05 Jun 18, Sharon Tomlinson (Australia - temperate climate)
I have asparagus roots that I have stored in sand for about 5 years. Do you think they would grow or do you think they would be dead?
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07 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My guess is they are dead. Plant them in Sept and see what happens. If they didn't grow and die off each year then what has sustained them all this time.
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04 Jun 18, Mark Hussey (Australia - arid climate)
Mindful that its a little early to cut back asparagus shoots, but when you do ,keep in mind that they are useful in getting rid of nematodes if you dig them through effected areas
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04 May 18, (Australia - temperate climate)
wouldnt it be dangerous to grow asparagus in your garden with young children likely to eat the berries?
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Showing 141 - 150 of 338 comments
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The transplanted ones will depend on how they were treated last year - whether they were left to build up energy reserves for this year. If you had plenty of spears grow into ferns then they should produce this year. Probably also depends how old the old crowns are. Last year while I was growing mine from 12 mth crowns to 24 mths I use to put about half a cup of fert in 9 L of water and feed them each month - only had 3 crowns. I also put manure/compost on in august. I have crowns that are coming up to 3 years old - that is from when seeds were planted - they have been shooting spears for a few weeks now - I have cut them back and manured and watered them. My seedlings which will be 12 mths old in Sept - I have not cut them back yet or put manure on them yet - will probably do that in about two weeks time. I have not watered them for the last month - they are not growing at the moment. As for manure - chicken is the richest in N followed by cow and then horse manure. I read the other day horse is about 1.75% N. Whatever manure you can get and add some fert if you like. We have had only one week of cool weather so far this winter - that is night temps down to 6-8 degrees.

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