Both can be sown directly into the ground.
#PLANT SPROUT HOW TO#
When it comes to how to plant asparagus, there are two ways: from crowns or from seed. RELATED: What Is Companion Planting and How to Use It in Your Home Garden How do you plant asparagus? These ferns should not be cut back while green, so be sure the asparagus bed isn’t shading out other veggies in the summer. For this reason, raised garden beds make an excellent spot for asparagus.Ĭompanion planting for asparagus can include any other sun-loving vegetables, but keep in mind that asparagus ferns can grow between 3 and 8 feet tall. Each plant can grow 1 to 3 feet wide and will require 10 to 12 inches’ depth of good, rich soil. Asparagus have deep roots and the crowns grow both vertically and horizontally, so having enough space for your plants is key. If planting asparagus crowns, pick a sunny place in your garden where they can grow successfully and undisturbed, with compost-rich, well-draining soil. The crowns can be transplanted to a permanent bed the following spring.
#PLANT SPROUT FREE#
If starting asparagus from seed directly in the garden, choose a sunny spot that will serve as an asparagus nursery, with enriched soil that can be kept moist and free of weeds. In areas with cold winters, it should be planted in early spring, usually April or May, when the soil can be worked and after the danger of frost has passed. In areas with mild winters, asparagus can be planted in fall or early winter. RELATED: 14 of the Fastest-Growing Houseplants for a Nearly Instant Indoor Garden When is the best time to plant asparagus? Most gardeners plant asparagus from crowns directly into their permanent bed however, they can also be grown from seed. Female asparagus plants also tend to produce larger spears, whereas male spears are more prolific and the plants live longer.īecause asparagus plants can grow for 15 years or longer, choosing the right spot for your asparagus is important. Both are edible, but female plants will produce small, inedible berries in the summer. Asparagus plants are dioecious, which means there are both male and female plants.
These ferns provide energy to the underground buds and roots for next year’s crops. After harvest, asparagus begin to produce leaves known as ferns, which are quite attractive. Once established, asparagus can grow up to 2 inches a day, yielding weeks of delicious, nutritious spears. But once you learn how to grow asparagus, it is well worth the effort to add them to your vegetable garden. The edible part of the asparagus plants are the spears, which emerge in springtime from the underground crowns.Ī fully grown asparagus plant can live 15 years or even longer, so these edibles require more space and time commitment than the average annual vegetable. Asparagus spears aren’t ready to harvest until 2 years after planting the asparagus from crowns-1-year-old plant buds and roots-or 3 years after planting asparagus from seed. Safety: Berries produced by female plants in summer are inedible Asparagus CharacteristicsĪsparagus ( Asparagus officinalis) is unique among veggies because it is one of only a few perennial vegetables. Propagation: Start seeds indoors or propagate from crowns Soil: Rich, quick-draining soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7įood: Feed once in spring and again after harvest RELATED: 12 Climbing Vegetables That Are Perfect for Compact Gardens Growing Asparagus at a Glance Here are some tips on the best way to grow asparagus for your garden. If grown properly, fresh asparagus will be gracing your plate for years to come. Because the plant is perennial and not ready for harvest right away, growing it is a lesson in patience, but that patience comes with a big reward. And while you may have mastered growing sweet peas or tomatoes, growing your own asparagus might be the next notch in your gardening belt. If walking through the farmers’ market gives you garden envy, then you know the joy and satisfaction of growing your own veggies.