• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
Planting-Asparagus-THUMB.jpg

Planting Asparagus

My mother-in-law has a vegetable garden every year. She shares her produce with all the family & she does a lot of canning. She would like to know how to plant asparagus.

Nothing beats the flavor of fresh from the garden produce and that includes asparagus. This vegetable does take time and a bit more work but once established will provide years of tasty spears. Select one of the newer more productive and disease resistant hybrids. Centennial, Greenwich and Jersey Giant varieties are available in many garden catalogues and at a few garden centers.

Purchase one year old disease free crowns. Each crown will eventually produce about ½ pound of asparagus spears. These can be planted out in the garden in early spring. Some garden centers are now selling 2 year old crowns potted, growing and ready for transplanting into the garden.

These can be planted any time the plants are available. I prefer early in the season to allow the plants time to establish before winter.

Prepare the planting site in advance. Incorporate several inches of organic matter into the top 12 inches of soil. Allow the soil to settle. Dig planting trenches twelve inches wide and eight inches deep and at least 18 inches apart. Make sure you will have easy access to all plants for weeding and harvesting. Place the bareroot crowns in the trench 9 to 18 inches apart in the rows. Set the crown upright and spread out the roots. Cover the crown with 2 inches of soil. Water thoroughly and as needed.

As the plants grow continue covering with soil until the trenches are filled. Mulch the soil surface to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. Continue to water thoroughly and often enough to keep the roots moist but not soggy.

Wait two years to start harvesting. You can make a light harvest for a couple of weeks the second year after planting. The third year after planting you can harvest the spears for 4 to 6 weeks. Some gardeners choose to wait until the plants are fully established for the best possible production in the future. By the fourth year you can harvest for 6 to 8 weeks. 

Related

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


April 3, 2024
Garden Trends 

Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI

April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now

April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now

April 17, 2024
Landscaping for Birds: 
A Gardener’s Perspective

Glendale, WI 

April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now

April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs 
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL

April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI

April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI

May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now

May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win The Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide !

ENTER NOW