Asparagus

Asparagus needs a permanent bed of deep, well-drained soil at pH 6.5-7.5, cleared of perennial weeds and enriched with compost. Feed established beds after harvest and keep summer ferns healthy because they replenish the crowns for next year.

Sun

Full sun

Water

Water deeply during establishment; adjust to rainfall and soil

Spacing

18 in

First harvest

2–3 years

Tips

• Set crowns 12-18 inches apart in trenches about 6-8 inches deep, gradually filling as shoots grow.
• Do not harvest during the planting year; keep young beds watered and weed-free while roots establish.
• In the second year, harvest only lightly if growth is vigorous; begin a full season in year three and stop when spears become pencil-thin.
• Apply compost and soil-test-recommended fertilizer after harvest, leaving green ferns intact until they die back.
• Check for asparagus beetles and remove dead fern growth after dormancy to reduce overwintering pests.

Plant healthy one-year-old asparagus crowns in early spring as soon as soil is workable.