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Asparagus Growing and Care Guide

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Safety Warnings

  • Berries produced by female plants in summer are toxic to humans; keep small children and pets away from fruiting plants.
  • Wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after harvesting seeds from berries.

Tools Needed

Spade — Standard garden spade for digging trenches
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Kitchen knife or scissors — Clean and sharp for harvesting spears
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Materials

Asparagus crowns — 1-year-old plant buds and roots(variable)
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Compost — Well-rotted organic matter for soil enrichment(variable)
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All-purpose fertilizer — 10-10-10 NPK ratio(variable)
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Straw mulch — Soft mulch that allows shoots to grow through(variable)
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Steps

1
Choose a sunny location with rich, quick-draining soil (pH 6.5 to 7) in USDA zones 4 to 9. Enrich the soil by incorporating compost or well-rotted manure.
2
Prepare the crowns by soaking them in warm water for at least 2 hours or overnight before planting.
3
Dig a trench 12 to 18 inches wide and 8 to 10 inches deep, spacing trenches 3 feet apart. Create a small soil mound 2 to 3 inches high in the middle of the trench.
Tip: Splaying the roots over the mound helps them establish properly.
form mound trench wall bottom depth center mound Cross-section: Dig trench and raise a small central mound for root splaying
4
Place crowns on the mound bud-to-root tip in a line, spacing buds 12 to 18 inches apart. Add all-purpose fertilizer to the trench and fill it with 2 to 3 inches of soil.
fill soil 2-3 inches Crown Fertilizer Cross-section · Position crowns on the mound before adding partial soil fill
5
Water the area to settle the soil and keep it evenly moist. As spears emerge and reach several inches tall, gradually fill in the remaining soil and apply a light layer of straw mulch.
6
Maintain the plants by weeding regularly and watering deeply when the soil dries out. Feed with phosphorus and potassium (or 10-10-10) in early spring and a high-nitrogen mix after harvest.
7
Allow the plants to grow without harvesting for the first 2 years (when using crowns) to establish a strong root system. Let the ferns grow uncut during summer to provide energy for the roots.
8
Begin harvesting spears in the second or third spring when they reach 6 to 8 inches long. Cut or snap spears as close to the roots as possible without damaging the crown.
Cut low above crown 6-8" mature spear Crown Knife Cross-section · Cut spear at base to protect the crown from damage
9
Limit the first year of harvest to the first 2 weeks of growth to let ferns strengthen the plant. In subsequent years, you can extend the harvest window up to 8 weeks.
10
Cut ferns back to 2 inches in late fall only after they have completely turned brown or yellow. Apply heavy mulch in fall in cold winter regions to protect crowns from frost.

Pro Tips

  • To avoid tough, thin spears as crowns lift over time, cover beds with about 6 inches of soil every year or every other year in spring.
  • If growing female plants, cut down spears once berries form to redirect the plant's energy toward root strengthening.
  • Harvesting too late in the season will result in tough, woody asparagus.

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