Growing Asparagus

Aspargus officianalis : Asparagaceae / the asparagus family

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

(Best months for growing Asparagus in Australia - 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

02 Oct 12, Rob (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hold off on fertilising during autumn especially with nitrogen and other soluble types. Fertilising is best done just before the plants enter their rapid growth phase, this is not only true for asparagus but for all plants although if your crop is flowers, fertilising during their rapid growth phase is also beneficial.
23 Aug 12, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I was told that asparagus was a shoreline plant originally, hence the supposed saline affection. All I have done is mulch with unwashed seaweed from the beach. This provides excellent nutrition and so far so good. I'd be careful about adding salt, and seaweed seems the perfect solution.
23 Nov 11, Lucien Lowe (Australia - temperate climate)
I have eight Asparagus plants in the corners of my 3metre x 1.5metre vege garden beds. I bought them as seedlings from Bunnings and they have been growing well for the last twelve months or so and still doing well. I have harvested lots of spears so far, but now I am thinking of transplanting my plants all into one bed. Can I cut the plant into two and plant them without destroying the plant? At the moment they are well ferned up and look quite healthy and strong. Also is it too late to do this now coming into December? Thanks, Lucien.
20 Oct 11, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
What pest would not only nibble through the delicate seedling Asparagus frond but eat every bit of green? On checking this morning there is NO sign of any frond left and there is no soil disturbance on the surface of the big pot? I am still speaechless... Any ideas outhere and what do I do now, wait and hope for more fronds to grow OR compost the lot??? and yes should you be wondering I am the same gardener who submitted the previous question and mistakenly clicked on NZ but this is the correct location, I am in Tasmania..\
23 Oct 11, Rowena (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Perhaps cutworm? They do eat the entire plant if it's tender enough :O) I got the following advice from the Yates website and it worked for me: Cutworms are only active at night, so go out after dark with a torch and check for caterpillars at work.Prevent cutworm attack by placing small, open-ended plastic cups around plants or by wrapping plant bases with aluminium foil. (Start just below the surface of the soil).
16 Oct 11, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
For the fist time I recently purchased some seedlings of Asparagus, planted them into deep 420 cm HDPE pot and now read that they take 3 years before harvest? If this is true what is the quantity of one seedling at havest time?? One spear of Asparagus Or more??? And does it really take 3 years from seedling stage with 3 fronds? And what happens with the soil in a pot, all Ican do is top it up with say cow manure or similar suitalbe manure / compost mixes? Any help is appreciated as this is my first time growin Asparagus Thank you Jen (Tas)
24 Oct 11, JOSEPH (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Please check the info on this and other sites as there is so much to learn about asparagus. These plants are the ultimate gross feeders, they love fertiliser and water It will last up to 25 to 30 years if looked after properly. I believe that you only harvest the spears from the male plant and the female one's produce berries. Please contact me if you any more queries. I am in Burnie. Joe
08 Oct 11, trudy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I can attest to the compatability between pasley and asparagus. The parsley growing in and around the Asparagus beds - Asparagus is 3 years onle and the pasley self seeding after 2 years - is the healthiest and strongest of the parsely plantings that I have. (tas)
03 Sep 11, lainie (Australia - temperate climate)
what is the depth for a asparagus if you are using a pot
30 Jul 11, ARTHUR (Australia - temperate climate)
13 Jul John thanks for the info I have now received a cat.. garden express. The spears are showing all ready and plenty of them.Thanks again Arthur
Showing 281 - 290 of 338 comments

I'm no expert - I have been growing them for 3 yrs. The new spears shoot in early Spring. So do not trim them now. I made the mistake of cutting them in late July last year and I had a very poor crop. My advise is to water them until the end of this month and then no watering. Let the plant die off. Then in late August cut the dead stalks off and put on the composted manure or just some good compost.

- Mike

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