Asparagus ( Asparagus officianalis)
- Family: Liliaceae
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Ease of growing: Difficult
- Nutrient needs: Moderate
- Water needs: Low
- Common propagation: Crowns (one-year-old nursery grown)
How long does it take to grow asparagus?
If you decide to grow asparagus from seed, you’ll need to wait for three or four years before you can start harvesting asparagus! With crowns, you can begin harvesting small amounts the year after they are planted. Asparagus plants are dioicous, meaning they are either male or female.
What are some tips for growing asparagus?
Asparagus Growing Tips. Since you won't be harvesting for the first year or so, asparagus requires some patience and preparation. Since asparagus is a perennial, you'll need to pick an out of the way spot in the vegetable garden, an area you can till around. Asparagus also needs space, about 4 - 5 feet for each plant.
Do you have to till asparagus?
Since asparagus is a perennial, you'll need to pick an out of the way spot in the vegetable garden, an area you can till around. Asparagus also needs space, about 4 - 5 feet for each plant. They won’t spread out much the first couple of years, but once established, they will quickly fill in.
When is the best time of year to plant asparagus?
For best results, prepare the bed in the fall before you plan to plant. Remove all the grass and weeds from the bed, because they’ll be very hard to get out after the asparagus starts growing.
How long does it take to grow asparagus?
Although asparagus can be started from seed, the plants take 3 years to mature, so it is usually grown from 1-year-old crowns. However, the plant can be productive for 10 years or more, so it's worth the wait. You can start planting and growing asparagus as soon as the soil is workable in late winter or early spring.
Is asparagus worth growing?
Asparagus is a nutrient-packed perennial, meaning this good-for-you veggie will produce year after year when properly cared for. Yes, that does mean it takes years to develop a crop of healthy asparagus, but the payoff is worth it.
Does asparagus take 3 years to grow?
Asparagus plants are slow to mature, taking three to five years to really fill in, but it's worth the wait. Once they start producing well, you will be harvesting asparagus spears for more than a month every spring. Asparagus spears are the straight young shoots of the plant, with scale-like tips.
Is asparagus easy to grow at home?
While the idea of growing asparagus may be overwhelming, it shouldn't be: Asparagus is a great starting point because it's one of the few perennial vegetables that'll grow fresh spears year after year with little space and effort.
What month do you plant asparagus?
Plant asparagus crowns in the early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Many gardeners plant at about the same time as potatoes go in the ground. Asparagus is usually grown from 1-year-old plants called “crowns,” but it can also be grown from seed.
How many asparagus do you get from one plant?
A mature stand of asparagus plants produces spears over several weeks, up to eight weeks. During this time, a healthy plant should yield around 20 spears. When asparagus plants grow in a sunny site with good drainage, proper irrigation, and adequate nutrients, the plants multiply and become crowded over time.
Can you pick asparagus the first year?
Answer: Asparagus plants should be allowed to become well established before any spears are harvested. No spears should be harvested during the first growing season. Asparagus can be harvested over a three to four week period during its second growing season.
Does asparagus come back every year?
Unlike most vegetables, asparagus plants are perennial, which means the same plants grow in your garden year after year. The spears that we enjoy as a vegetable are the new shoots that emerge in spring.
Does asparagus regrow after cutting?
Yes, it does. Asparagus regrow after cutting. This is because perennial plants make a return year after year. The fact that a plant lasts 20 years is evidence that it does regrow after cutting.
Can asparagus grow in pots?
You can grow asparagus asparagus in pots from seeds, crowns (roots), or transplants. Asparagus seeds should be either started inside in February or planted outside in April. Spread the roots out in the hole as evenly as possible if you plant a crown and leave a six-inch cavity above the crown.
Does asparagus need full sun?
Growing Conditions Site - Full sun is ideal. Asparagus needs at least 8 hours of sun per day. Since asparagus is a long-lived perennial, do not plant where trees or tall shrubs might eventually shade the plants or compete for nutrients and water.
How often do you water asparagus?
Asparagus needs 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water every week. Generally, the best way to make use of daily watering for asparagus is water the soil enough that it is consistently moist. Then, consistently mist asparagus rows to maintain soil moisture.
What happens if you don't harvest asparagus?
You should harvest all of the spears that come up until the end of the harvest period, even the small diameter ones. If you don't, asparagus beetles will lay their eggs in those ferns.
Will asparagus spread on its own?
Yes, asparagus will spread as it grows. Asparagus roots can spread out up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) underground. Asparagus ferns (mature spears with foliage) can spread out 3 feet (90 centimeters) above ground. An older, more mature asparagus plant will send up more spears from its larger crown and energy reserves.
Does asparagus regrow after cutting?
Yes, it does. Asparagus regrow after cutting. This is because perennial plants make a return year after year. The fact that a plant lasts 20 years is evidence that it does regrow after cutting.
Can you pick asparagus the first year?
Answer: Asparagus plants should be allowed to become well established before any spears are harvested. No spears should be harvested during the first growing season. Asparagus can be harvested over a three to four week period during its second growing season.
What Type Should I Grow?
Where and How to Plant
- Once you’ve decided what type of asparagus to grow, you’ll need to decide how much to plant. Obviously, the amount of room you have in your landscape for planting will play a role in this. But, if space is not an issue, 10-20 plants per person is a good start. Since asparagus is a perennial crop, site selection is going to be important. It’s not uncommon for asparagus plantings to last f…
Weed Control and Fertilizing
- Weed control is very important when establishing asparagus as well as to develop a good crop. Many people believe that adding salt to asparagus plantings is a good way to go about doing this. While asparagus can tolerate higher salt levels than many plants, it’s not a good idea to be adding salt to the soil. Excess salt will destroy the soil struct...
Harvesting
- Now that you’ve gotten your asparagus planted and cared for, when can you begin harvesting? This is where patience comes into play: harvesting too much too early will lead to weak plants and lower yields down the road. 1. The year you plant your asparagus crowns, you should not harvest any asparagus. Let the spears grow and develop “ferns” (leaves). 2. The year after planting (seco…
Asparagus
Transplants
Planning Facts
Variety Selection
Preparation and Planting
- Asparagus is a perennial crop that can be expected to produce for 10 years or more, so it is particularly important to take the time to find a suitable site, and prepare it carefully. Sandy, well-drained soils with pH between 6.8 and 7.5 are preferred. Relatively high levels of phosphorous should be provided (up to 200 lbs P/A) and incorporated bef...
Care
Harvesting and Storage