How to Grow Asparagus

Learn how to grow Asparagus and what to make with your abundant harvests. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a perennial vegetable and is a great long-term investment in your food production. Asparagus grows back each year and can produce for up to 30 years ( or longer). The great thing about Asparagus is it produces edible spears at the start of spring, which is often an “in-between” time in the garden when winter crops have finished and summer crops are not yet ready.

Asparagus does require its own spot in the garden, but it can also be grown successfully in a container garden.

What parts of Asparagus are edible?

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Quick Tips on How to Grow Asparagus at Home

PLANT

Plant seeds in spring or dormant crowns late winter.

SOIL

Free-draining compost-rich soil. Slightly acidic.

LOCATION

Full sun – part. 6-8 hours.

CARE

Keep weed-free and well mulched.

FERTILISE

Feed with compost and composted manure late winter after fronts die off.

PESTS

Aphids, snails, slaters.

HARVEST

Harvest spears in spring choose spears thicker than a pencil.

REPRODUCE

Can be grown by seed but produce quicker by dividing crowns (roots)

Why Grow Asparagus at Home?

Here are some of the many reasons to grow Asparagus.

Hardy, low-maintenance vegetable
Perennial
Ornamental and edible
Prolific producer
Early Spring Harvest
Produces up to 30 years
High in Potassium
Great raw or cooked

Popular Asparagus Varieties to Grow

Mary Washington – Popular open-pollinated variety. Long, tender green spears. White spears can be produced if blocked from light.

Sweet Purple – Dark purple spears with 20% more sugar than the green variety. It is also less fibrous.

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO GROW ASPARAGUS

Choose a sunny location that can be a permanent home
Prepare soil with plenty of compost and well-composted manure.
Free-draining, slightly acidic soil
Grow from crowns for faster production
Feed with high nitrogen or compost at the end of winter before spring growth
Allow spears to grow into ferns for the first 2 years
Harvest the fattest spears and leave thin ones to go to ferns
Keep weed-free and well-mulched

When to Plant Asparagus?

If you are planting Asparagus from seed, sow seeds in Spring. Soak seeds in water for 2+ hours before planting for quicker germination. Seedlings can also be planted in spring. Established crowns should be planted while still dormant in late winter.

How to Grow Asparagus?

Choose a sunny location with 6-8 hours of sunlight.
Choose a location that can be a permanent home for the next 20+ years.
Be aware of surrounding trees that may grow to overshadow the asparagus patch.
Asparagus-like loose soil that is easy to burst through. Create mounts if you have hard or clay soils.
Prepare beds with plenty of compost and composted manure.
Plant 40cm apart
Give them a deep water.

Care/ Maintenance

Asparagus comes in both male and female plants. They both produce spears, but the males are said to be of higher quality. The female plants can be identified as they produce berries at the end of the ferns. These berries can be saved and will have seeds inside that can be planted.

Feeding

Feed with compost or composted manure at the end of winter. Remulch with lupin, pea straw or sugarcane.

Watering

Deep water, especially in summer.

Harvesting

Asparagus holds its energy in the crowns, so it is important to allow the patch to establish before harvesting. From seed, Asparagus should be left for the first 2-3 years. If growing from crowns, Asparagus can be picked sparingly over the first 1-2 years. Choose the fattest spears at least pencil-width thick. Let the thin spears turn to ferns to conserve energy in the crowns for winter.

Pruning

If left, the spears will turn into tall ferns. This is how the plant conserves energy and repopulates. It’s important to allow this for the first few years. The green ferns will turn yellow and die off during mid-late winter. They can then be pruned and used as mulch or added to the compost. Once pruned, add a fresh layer of compost around the bed and re-mulch. This will keep them warm over winter and add nutrients back to the bed ahead of spring.

Pests / Disease

Aphids, slugs, snails, and slaters may like your young spears. Check plants in early spring. Natural pest management. Spears can also be affected with rust. Allow good airflow.

How/ When to Harvest

Asparagus is ready in early spring. Choose the fattest spears, bigger than pencil width and 20 – 25cm tall. Use a sharp knife and cut just below the soil line. Allow thinner spears to grow into ferns.

Reproducing

Female plants will produce berries at the end of their ferns, which contain seeds. These can be planted to expand your Asparagus patch. Crowns can be split when dormant in winter to create new patches.

Cooking and Using

Asparagus can be eaten raw, cooked or preserved, pickled, and bottled.

Asparagus pairs well with: Mint, peas, rocket, dill, chives, cheese, eggs, cured meats, seafood, strawberry, raspberry, nuts, lemon, and potato

Asparagus ideas: