Where is the best place to grow asparagus?
Asparagus will grow well in virtually all areas of the US and lower Canada, except where there is extreme summer heat. For marginal areas where the lack of reliable freezing temperatures fail to initiate a dormancy rest period, withholding water in the winter can achieve a similar effect.
How long does asparagus take to grow?
How to Harvest Asparagus
- It’s tempting to want to cut the first asparagus shoots you see and rush them to the kitchen. ...
- If you can’t wait, limit yourself in the first year to cutting spears over a 10-day period. ...
- Snap off the spears at ground level when they’re about 5 to 7 inches tall or before they start opening and producing foliage. ...
How to successfully grow asparagus in your garden?
- A good rule of thumb is to plant 25 asparagus plants for a family of four. ...
- Since you’re planting only once, choose a well-drained garden spot that gets plenty of sun for your permanent asparagus bed. ...
- For best results, prepare the bed in the fall before you plan to plant. ...
- Next, ask your local County Extension Service to test your soil. ...
Does asparagus need full sun?
In the right conditions, asparagus plants remain productive for about 15 years. Asparagus thrives in full sun, but it will tolerate shade for part of the day as long as it gets at least eight hours of light. Asparagus prefers cooler weather, so in warmer climates, planting in the shade will protect asparagus from the hot summer sun.

How long does it take for asparagus to come up?
Asparagus seeds can take 21 days — and even far longer — to germinate. A savvy gardener knows to not give up because young shoots may be about to emerge. The seedlings themselves require several weeks to reach two inches in height, the size right for transplanting into a growing bed.
Why did my asparagus not come up this year?
Harvest was too early or too heavy. Plants must be allowed to store food for the next season before they go dormant. Asparagus should be picked the first year it is planted; the second year harvest for two weeks and the next year for 4 weeks. Stop harvesting when spears are thinner than a pencil.
When should I see my asparagus?
As asparagus emerges in the spring, the spears are the first visible growth in the stages of growing asparagus. These spears may be harvested when they are 6 to 8 inches long, typically starting in mid-March and continuing through mid-June. On a mature plant, this harvest may last for up to 10 weeks.
Does asparagus come up the first year?
Asparagus shoots produce fern-like leafy foliage if left uncut. As to whether to harvest the first year, traditional garden wisdom says to skip harvest and allow all spears (young shoots) to develop their fern-like foliage the first growing season.
How do you encourage asparagus to grow?
Asparagus patches should receive at least one inch of water every week. If they have not received an inch of rain in the last week, soak the soil with water. Asparagus growing in sandy soil should be watered more than once per week in the absence of rain, and heavy clay soils may not need to be watered as often.
Are coffee grounds good for asparagus?
Stocking up on coffee grounds for your vegetables, sowing peas, and planting asparagus are some of the spring activities for this year's vegetable garden. Coffee grounds contain some major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) as well as some micronutrients, so put them to work in your garden.
What do new asparagus plants look like?
0:551:59What Does Asparagus Look Like & When Does it Sprout? - MFG 2014YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWill go from that stock size that you eat it or buy it in the store and it will just grow up toMoreWill go from that stock size that you eat it or buy it in the store and it will just grow up to almost 4 feet tall. And put out a bunch of fern like leaves.
Does cutting asparagus encourage growth?
If they are left to continue to grow, it will help to boost the crop next year, but will reduce the number of new spears that develop this season. Cutting could take place until the normal end of the season (21 June) with this method."
Is asparagus hard to grow?
Not only is it easy to grow and maintain but it's a perennial crop as well. So with one year of planting, you can set yourself up for years and years of future harvests. In fact, a single planting of asparagus crowns can keep on producing for 20 years or more. Now that is a serious return on a little planting effort!
At what soil temperature does asparagus emerge?
50°FAsparagus can be grown in most temperate regions, but grows more robustly in cooler areas with long winters. The edible part of the asparagus plant is the young stem shoot, which emerges as soil temperatures rise above 50°F (10°C) in spring.
How much water do asparagus plants need?
Water. Asparagus needs regular watering, especially while young; give it 1 to 2 inches of water per week during its first two growing seasons; give older plants about 1 inch per week.
Does asparagus need full sun?
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.