Asparagus

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Plant outdoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost. Space plants 12 in (30 cm) apart.

Photo: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Direct Sow Crowns (Fast Harvest)

RootRecommended root
  1. Plant outdoors4 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. First harvestspring; the first crop about 2 years after planting

Optimal Indoor Start (Slow Harvest)

From seedRecommended from seed
  1. Start indoors10 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week before your last spring frost
  3. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  4. First harvestspring; the first crop about 2 years after planting

Growing asparagus

Spacing in the row
12 in (30 cm)
Between rows
48 in (122 cm)
Planting depth
1 inch (seeds), 6-8 inches (crowns)
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, loose, fertile, loamy soil
Germination
14-21 days at 70-85°F
Harvest season
Spring
Years to first crop
2
Mature height
48-72 inches
Hardy to
USDA zone 3
Life cycle
Perennial

Sow seeds 1 inch deep, 3-5 inches apart, or plant crowns in 6-8 inch deep trenches.

Watering. Consistent moisture, especially during establishment. Avoid waterlogging.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Keep apart from

Feeding

Seedlings
Light liquid fertilizer once true leaves appear.
Growing
Balanced granular fertilizer in early spring and after harvest.
Flowering and fruiting
N/A - focus on spear production.
How often
Twice a year: early spring and after harvest.
Note
Asparagus are heavy feeders; side-dress with compost or manure.

Your asparagus, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add asparagus to your planting calendar →

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