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 - sub-tropical regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • 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

30 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are they two years old from seed or crowns?I believe the ferns die in the colder weather but not in sub-tropics /tropics. I'm sub tropic and they have not died in the last 3 years. I even stopped watering in early May this year and we have had a very dry time since then. I would cut the old ones out. Pick some of the new spears and eat. Depending on how many spears you are getting probably stop picking in about 4 weeks and let grow for next year. You have to let the crown grow in the first 2-3 years. In future from about Nov or so let the spears go to ferns-even while you are picking leave a couple go to ferns. Leave the ferns there until mid August-the ferns are growing the crown and storing nutrient in the crown for spears next year. Then cut them off and put 50-75mm of compost or aged manure on them and start watering them. And by compost I mean fully broken down organic matter or manure. Not mulch.
09 Dec 19, jenny mullins (Australia - temperate climate)
I was told never to trim the ferny bits as they harness strength for the crown & help develop bigger & better spears for the following season. Is this incorrect. I bought crowns from K-Mart over 15 years ago. Had them in a small pot. They grew, they 'died', they grew again & died again. I decided to transplant them into a large garbage bin, about 75cm deep. They grew & produced lovely tasting, about 3/4 cm thick spears, over the last two years. I've fed very randomly (haven't been well for long while) sometimes Dynamic Lifter, sometimes Seasol, sometimes Complete Fertilizer. I don't think I've even fed them once a year!!! I'm trying to show them some loving respect now, & so shocked at how they tolerated gross neglect & still gave me precious, delicious spears to just pick & eat...never made it to the kitchen!!
03 Sep 19, Kirstee (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Is it possible to grow asparagus in pots? I am currently renting so unable to plant in the ground.
04 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You probably would need a pot about 700-900mm diameter and 600mm+ deep - maybe deeper. Mighty heavy to move when full of soil. It take 2-3 yrs before picking a decent amount. The supermarket maybe a better option. =
15 Aug 19, Jenni (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have bought tiny ferns of asparagus,2-3inches high, which i'm about to plant. i'm not sure what the different terms mean or look like? ie roots shoots ferns crowns . in what sequence do they grow and when.
16 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
After 6 months or so your little ferns will have a hard bulb - that is the crown - this will grow bigger. Next time you go to Bunnings look for asparagus bulbs - about 9 mnths old. From the crown you will have roots - just like any plant has. After you have trimmed off your asparagus plants in the winter and it warms up, shoots come out of the ground - these are called spears - these are the things you cut off and eat. If these are left to grow then they become ferns. GO on the internet and type in growing asparagus and read read,
02 Aug 19, SueEllen (Australia - temperate climate)
i have cut back my asparagus when it died back, about 3 weeks ago. I covered it with manure and compost and it has begun to grow again. The new stalks are about 15 - 20 cms already but only pencil thin. I really want to harvest white asparagus, should i mound the soil up over the asparagus now? or should i let it just grow?
04 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant white asparagus if you want white. If plant is old you could cut the spears - thin ones. If plant is 1-2 years old could let the thin spears grow. Read up about male and female asparagus.
28 Jul 19, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where can I buy good asparagus crowns ?
29 Jul 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try Bunnings or a nursery.
Showing 101 - 110 of 338 comments

Alice, I would only use rotted or composted stable manure, unless you want a fine crop of barley/wheat/grasses/whatever seeds the horse ate. They all germinate beautifully from fresh stable manure.

- Chris

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