Learn How to Grow Asparagus - Instructions and advice for growing Asparagus Plants in Your Vegetable Garden

How to Grow Asparagus
Instructions for Growing Asparagus
in Your Garden

Nutrition	Watering Instructions	Harvesting
Climate	Fertilizing Instructions	Storage
Soil	Challenges	Tips
Planting	Prep for Winter

* Easy to Grow! *

Asparagus is a hardy perennial grown for the young stem (spear), and is usually the garden's first spring harvest. Male plants produce larger and better spears. Female plants are identified by their red berries. Asparagus beds often produce for 15 to 20 years.

Note: Asparagus is not a good choice for container gardening.

How to Grow Asparagus - Nutrition Information

Per the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, "Asparagus is one the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables in existence." Asparagus provides:
Folic Acid, Folacin, Rutin, Chromium, Potassium, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Fiber, Manganese, Calcium, Vitamin A, Protein, Riboflavin, Niacin, Copper

How to Grow Asparagus - Quantity/Yield

Under good growing conditions, 10 plants should provide for one person.

How to Grow Asparagus - Climate & Growing Conditions

Growing asparagus is popular because it thrives in mild to cold climates and withstands frosts. It does not grow well in hot humid climates with year-round growing seasons. Growing asparagus is most successful where the garden soil freezes in the winter.

Asparagus prefers full sun, but will take partial shade.

Also, when growing asparagus remember that these are tall plants. Be careful not to shade other plants in your garden.

How to Grow Asparagus - Preparing the Garden Soil

Growing asparagus is best in well-drained sandy soil that's slightly alkaline (pH: 6.5 to 7.0). (See: Testing soil pH)

Mix in plenty of compost (and/or a complete fertilizer), tilling to 24 " deep.

Gardening Tip for Growing Asparagus - Keep weed-free. Consider mulching around the growing asparagus plants for weed control. Try grass clippings, straw, or chopped leaves (also enriches the soil).

How to Grow Asparagus - Planting

Plant asparagus roots/crowns in the spring. Dig trenches 10” wide, 8” deep. Rows should be 4' apart. Set roots 16” apart and cover with no more than 2” of soil. As it grows, cover it with soil, until the trench is filled (leaving new shoots uncovered).

You can also grow asparagus by planting seed in early spring (do not to harvest until the 4th year though). Soak the seeds in water for several days before planting. Sow seeds 1" deep, 2" apart, in rows that are 4' apart.

Gardening Tip for Growing Asparagus - It's better to plant several short neighboring rows when growing asparagus.

How to Grow Asparagus - Watering

Keep garden soil moist all season, but especially when the spears are forming. Dry soil causes tough spears.

How to Grow Asparagus - Fertilizing

In summer, lightly mix in compost or a high nitrogen fertilizer, to promote top growth. Apply again in very early spring.

Gardening Tip for Growing Asparagus - plentiful top growth during the summer is very important, as it determines next spring's harvest.

How to Grow Asparagus - Gardening Challenges

Note: Gardeners generally find that growing asparagus is free of problems.

Consider selecting rust-resistant varieties to avoid this plant disease.

If experiencing asparagus beetles , consider planting tomato plants nearby. (see companion planting chart)

If the spears are tough, these are the likely causes:

the soil may not have been kept consistently moist
the soil could be too acidic (see testing soil pH)
there may not have been enough fertilizer
the asparagus was harvested too late in the season

How to Grow Asparagus - Harvesting

Starting the 3rd year, harvest asparagus spears in early spring. Harvest for no longer than 8 weeks. Do not harvest during summer. This allows the patch to prepare for next year's harvest.

Harvest asparagus when spears are 6-10” long, while the tops are still tight. Cut just below soil level, being careful to not damage new shoots.

How to Grow Asparagus - Fall Preparation

Many gardeners cut down asparagus stalks in early fall. This removes the seeds before they mature. (The seedlings can easily become like weeds in your asparagus bed.)

Gardening Tip for Growing Asparagus - leave 10" of stalk attached when cutting down the stalk. This will help hold a snow covering (which acts like a mulch, protecting the bed from extreme temperatures).