A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Asparagus in Your Garden

Learn how to start an asparagus bed from seed or crowns, including choosing the right variety, preparing the soil, planting, and caring for your asparagus plants.

Growing your own asparagus is both satisfying and tasty. It’s one of the first veggies ready in the spring. Known for being crunchy, soft, and delicious, asparagus can last in your garden for up to 15 years¹. This means you can enjoy a lot of it over many springs.

The best time to pick asparagus is in early spring. In places like Minnesota, the season lasts 6 to 8 weeks, ending in late June¹. With good care, these plants can grow up to 2 inches per day in peak season¹. This will give you plenty to use in your cooking.

Key Takeaways

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that can thrive for up to 15 years in the garden.
The asparagus harvest season lasts 6-8 weeks, from early May to late June in Minnesota.
Asparagus spears can grow up to 2 inches per day during the peak season.
Proper soil preparation and planting techniques are crucial for successful asparagus cultivation.
Consistent watering and fertilization are essential for maintaining a healthy asparagus bed.

Introduction to Asparagus Gardening

Asparagus: A Unique Perennial Vegetable

Asparagus is quite special. In Minnesota, you’ll find it growing, alongside horseradish and rhubarb.² The part we eat is the spear, which is the stem of the plant. These spears come out from the soil from buds, which we call crowns.

If you let the spears grow more, they turn into ferns. Ferns help store energy for next year’s spears.

Benefits of Growing Asparagus at Home

Growing asparagus at home has many benefits. It lasts for years as a productive crop.²³ A well-tended asparagus bed can bear harvest for 15 to 30 years. Best part? You don’t have to move it.

This vegetable is one of the first you can pick in the spring. It adds great taste and health to your meals.

Choosing the Right Asparagus Variety

Choosing the right asparagus type is key for a great harvest. There are male and female asparagus plants. Males like.⁴ to produce bigger spears and last longer than females, making them a top pick for gardens.⁵

Recommended Varieties for Different Climates

Apollo is a popular pick for its ability to grow well in various climates.⁶ The Jersey Series is also top-notch, including Jersey Giant, Knight, and Supreme. They are hybrids known for being resistant to disease, having good nutrients, and suiting different climates well.⁶

Precoce D’Argenteuil is a great choice for zones 5 to 8, coming from Europe. It has a sweet taste and likes full sun.⁶ If you’re looking for something different, try vibrant purple asparagus. It’s sweet as it has about 20% more sugar than the typical green kind.⁶

Male vs. Female Asparagus Plants

Asparagus can be male or female.⁵ Males are preferred for their larger, more uniform spears in most gardens. They outshine the females in number and appearance.⁴ However, females have their own unique aspect. They grow red, inedible berries in summer.⁵

It’s worth noting that open-pollinated types may include a mix of male and female plants. Yet, hybrids, like the Jersey Series, are all-male.⁵

Site Selection and Soil Preparation

Asparagus is a plant that likes different types of soil. But picking the right spot and getting the soil ready is key for it to grow well.¹

Ideal Site Conditions for Asparagus

For best growth, asparagus likes well-drained soil with a pH level from 6.5 to 7.0. This vegetable can’t handle very acidic soil.¹ It can grow in heavy, medium, or sandy soils. But make sure water doesn’t stand on the soil after it rains.¹

Soil pH and Fertility Requirements

Testing the soil before planting asparagus is very important. This helps you know if the soil has enough nutrients.¹ If it doesn’t, you’ll need to add fertilizer.¹ A good rule for asparagus is to use 1 to 1.5 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet.¹

Amending and Enriching the Soil

It’s best to mix the soil with compost or manure before planting. This makes the soil better for the asparagus. It helps with drainage and gives the plants more nutrients.¹,⁷,⁸

Planting Asparagus Crowns

When to Plant Asparagus Crowns

In Minnesota, asparagus is usually planted from early May to early June.¹ Order crowns online for a delivery near your planting date. Store them in the fridge until then.⁹

Step-by-Step Guide to Planting Asparagus Crowns

Start by digging a trench 6-12 inches deep.⁹ Its size should fit how many crowns you’re planting. Place each crown 12 inches apart, head to toe.⁹

Cover them with 2-3 inches of soil. As the ferns grow, add more soil but be gentle to avoid damage.

Growing Asparagus from Seed

Asparagus is often grown from crowns, but seeds work too.¹ Pick a spot with good drainage for your nursery bed. Sow the seeds in spring, 1 inch deep and 2-3 inches apart, with rows a foot away.¹

Starting Asparagus Seeds Indoors

It’s vital to keep the nursery bed free of weeds.¹ A 4-6 inch straw mulch layer in late October helps protect against the cold.¹ It keeps the roots warm over winter.

Transplanting Seedlings to the Garden

Early April is the best time to move asparagus plants to their final spot.¹ This gives them a head start for the season. They can settle in well.

How to Start Asparagus

Watering and Mulching Requirements

Asparagus needs steady soil moisture to grow well. They should get about 1 inch of water each week. This can be from rain or adding water yourself.¹ If your asparagus is in sandy soil, it might need more water. This keeps the moisture just right for growth.

After planting, put down a 4-6 inch layer of organic mulch. This mulch helps the soil stay moist. It also stops weeds from taking over.¹

Fertilizing Asparagus Plants

Asparagus plants need food during the growing season. Use a slow-release plant food or fertilizer.¹ Before planting, put down 1 to 1.5 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer over 100 square feet. Following the fertilizer’s label instructions is key. It ensures your asparagus gets the nutrients it needs. This way, your plants will grow strong and give big harvests.

Asparagus Plant Care and Maintenance

Keeping asparagus healthy means watching out for weeds and pests. When asparagus is newly planted, it’s vital to keep the area free of weeds. This is because weeds can outcompete young asparagus plants.¹ To remove weeds, gently pull them by hand. Be careful not to damage the asparagus roots. Over time, once the plants are older, weed troubles lessen. Adding a thick layer of organic mulch also stops weeds from growing.¹

Weed Control in Asparagus Beds

Asparagus usually stays safe from most pests and diseases. But, sometimes, asparagus beetles can harm the plants.¹ You can remove these beetles by hand or by using safe, organic insecticides. Keeping an eye out and quick responses are key to asparagus health.

Protecting Asparagus from Pests and Diseases

Using the right methods for weed and pest control, gardeners can enjoy their asparagus for many seasons.¹ Its steady growth and tasty crop make asparagus a great choice for any garden.

Harvesting Asparagus Spears

Being an indoor gardener, I’ve discovered the secret to a great asparagus harvest. It’s all about the right time and the right way. The data say to pick asparagus when it’s 6 to 10 inches tall, usually from early May to late June in Minnesota. This period lasts six to eight weeks, but it might be shorter if it’s dry.¹⁰

When to Start Harvesting Asparagus

Newly planted asparagus needs time before it’s ready to eat. Don’t pick any for the first 2-3 years. Then, the harvest time begins in late May and goes on until early July, when the growth slows.¹⁰ In the peak season, which is from late May to early June, pick spears every two days.¹⁰

Proper Harvesting Techniques

To cut asparagus, use a knife or scissors at the base where it grows.¹⁰ But, only cut the big ones. Stop when they’re as thin as a pencil.¹⁰ For asparagus older than three years, stop picking by July 1. Younger ones should be picked less to not hurt them and keep their yield high.¹⁰

How Long to Harvest Asparagus

When you’re done picking, cut everything else, no matter how big. This helps the plants stay healthy for next year.¹⁰ After picking, handle weeds, add fertilizer, and maybe water to keep the plants in good shape.¹⁰ Using a herbicide after picking can stop small weeds from growing.¹⁰ Also, add nitrogen fertilizer right after the last picking to help the ferns grow strong for next season.¹⁰

FAQ

How long can an asparagus plant last?

An asparagus plant can keep growing for up to 15 years.

When is the asparagus harvest season in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, the asparagus season runs for 6 to 8 weeks, starting in early May through late June.

What are the edible parts of the asparagus plant?

The edible parts are the spears. These are the young shoots of the plant.

They grow from crowns just below the soil’s surface.

What is the difference between male and female asparagus plants?

Female plants bear red, round berries that can’t be eaten. Male plants don’t produce these.

Males are known to live longer and offer more numerous, smaller spears than females.

What are the ideal soil conditions for growing asparagus?

Asparagus prefers well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH of 6.5 to 7.0.

It can thrive in different types of soil if water doesn’t pool after rain.

When is the best time to plant asparagus crowns in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, plant asparagus crowns between early May and June. If buying online, aim for a close delivery to planting time. Keep the crowns in the fridge until then.

Can asparagus be grown from seed?

Indeed, asparagus can start from seed, not just crowns.

Grow seeds in spring then plant the resulting crowns the next spring.

How much water and fertilizer do asparagus plants need?

These plants like moist soil, needing at least 1 inch of water every week.

Feed them regularly with plant food or fertilizer to help them grow strong.

How do I control weeds in an asparagus bed?

With new plants, weed control is key. Pull weeds by hand and add a thick layer of mulch to keep them down.

When can I start harvesting asparagus spears?

Don’t harvest new asparagus plantings for 2-3 years so they can grow strong.

After that, you can pick spears for 6-8 weeks each year, from May to June.