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Asparagus Planting & Growing Guide
Asparagus is one of those gifts that just keeps giving. Plant this perennial vegetable one early spring and, with a little patience, youβll be harvesting tender, delicious spears for yearsβas much as 20 years for some varieties! Whether you eat them fresh, canned, or frozen, Asparagus is a worthwhile investment in your edible garden. Read on to learn how to plant, grow, and care for Asparagus with our comprehensive guide.
Success Snapshot

PLANTING
DEPTH
4-5 inches

WATER
QUANTITY
Moderate

SUNLIGHT
QUANTITY
Full Sun

PLANTING
PROXIMITY
6-8 inches

BLOOM
SEASON
Harvest at 7-9 inches

HARDINESS
ZONES
Zones 4-8
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Where to Plant Asparagus
Plant Asparagus in full sun in well-draining soil in zones 3β8. Asparagus can tolerate some shade but without enough sun, the spears will be spindly.
When to Plant Asparagus
Plant Asparagus in early spring as soon as danger of frost has passed and the soil is workable.
How to Plant Asparagus
- Find a location with full sun and well-draining soil. If you notice that water still puddles 5 to 6 hours after a hard rain, it's best to find a different spot or plant in a raised bed or container.
- Plant your Asparagus crowns as soon as possible after they arrive. Before planting, rinse the crowns just to rehydrate them a little.
- Dig a trench 8β10 inches deep. Mound loose soil mixed with compost or composted manure at the bottom of the trench and water it well.
- Lay the crowns 1 foot apart with the tops 6β8 inches below ground level and spread the roots out over the soil mound. Cover with 2 inches more of the soil and compost mixture and water again.
How to Grow Asparagus
- Fill in more soil and compost a few inches at a time as the plants grow. Be sure not to cover the tips of the plants. Asparagus plants will grow to 4 feet high with feathery green foliage.
- Water at least once a week, more often in warm weather; 1β of water at a time is a good estimate. Stick a finger into the soil around the roots to make sure the water is permeating to where the roots can access it without drowning them. Too much water can cause the crowns to rot.
- Add a light mulch to the surrounding soil to improve drainage, reduce evaporation, and keep competing weeds at bay.
Asparagus Tips & Tricks
- Skip taking any harvest the first year in order to let the Asparagus plants to establish a good root system.
- Harvest in the second year by cutting the spears at soil level at a 45-degree angle. After 4β6 weeks of harvest, just let the plants grow without any more cutting.
- Harvest for 8β10 weeks in the third year.
- Apply additional compost around the plants after each harvest and water deeply.
- Keep the area well weeded so the plants wonβt need to compete for water and nutrients.
- In late fall/early winter cut the Asparagus stems to the ground and clear the area of debris to prevent insect predators from overwintering. In areas with significant snowfall, you can leave stems up until spring to catch some of the snow and keep it off the crowns.