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

09 Oct 10, pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i use horse manure without problems, however having said that i get it from a trotting stable where the trainer only feeds his horses on rice based horse feed. If you collect it from a paddock it will contain weed and grass seeds. as for cow manure - its much better because they have two stomacs and regurgitate and chew their cud breaking down the food much better than a horse can.
06 Apr 10, bec (Australia - temperate climate)
Does anyone grow asparagus around Toowoomba QLD area, I'd like to know where I can buy crowns, I know they grow asparagus down around Warwick? Will horse manure work.
31 May 13, karen (Australia - temperate climate)
have you had a reply to your question?? as I also would like to buy some crowns, and could do with some tips on growing them down the range.
28 Feb 10, Teresa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We planted our asparagus crown in an old tyre will this make a difference to how it grows?
31 Jan 10, Evelyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks warren. I still have the old Mary Washingtons so may replant them into some really good compost and keep the manure up. Interesting that it took four years - may have to wait and see how they go with some TLC.
30 Jan 10, warren (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Evelyn I haven't tried the fat bastard variety but I have Mary Washington in at present. Grew these plants from seed and it has taken 5 years for my first really good crop although I could have picked after 3 years I didn't and the wait has been worthwhile.. The secret is to use plenty of manure- I have found sheep and cow manure is great and I dig in a few bags in early winter so it rots down well before spring. Also plenty of water in summer so the crowns don't get dry.
27 Jan 10, Evelyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Our asparagus did not go so well after four years - we found out too late that we had mainly female plants which don't get very fat, nor had we really manured the soil enough I think so probably a bit nutrient deficient as well. I gave in and bought some asparagus plants from Diggers this year - a variety called Fat Bastard (sorry but that is its name). Has anyone tried this variety and how did you find it?
16 Jan 10, meg (Australia - tropical climate)
neighbour in babinda grows asparagus. bunnings cairns had crowns recently. i am having a go .
15 Nov 09, patricia (Australia - tropical climate)
michelle - i hear from seeds it takes two years. Theres Maryann's hobby nursery in woodroffe that sells them from crown and says they go good. i hadnt heard of asparagus in darwin but will see how it goes.
08 Nov 09, Peter (Australia - tropical climate)
Has Michelle 09/09 received any tips?
Showing 311 - 320 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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