Did you know that asparagus quickly looses it’s flavor after it’s picked? It’s true… So if you want the best flavor you’ve got to grow asparagus on your own!

Asparagus does not store well… The longer it’s stored before eating, the more flavor it looses. That’s why homegrown asparagus, or fresh picked asparagus tastes so much better than store bought… Try my easy roasted asparagus recipe!
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Is it Hard to Grow Asparagus?
In well drained soil that’s rich in organic matter, asparagus is an easy low-maintenance plant that grows a delicious harvest for 15 years or more! If you’re willing to invest the time and effort upfront, growing asparagus is easy and rewarding!

How long till harvest after planting asparagus?
Unlike tomatoes, growing asparagus requires a bit of patience and a long-term commitment… It takes a few years for asparagus plants to get established and start producing a harvest…. So plant them in a spot you are good to leave them in for years;)
It takes two to three years before you can start harvesting significant amounts of asparagus after planting.
- Year 1 & 2: The first couple of years are crucial for the plants to establish a strong root system. It’s best to refrain from harvesting or only harvest lightly during this period to allow the plants to grow strong.
- Year 3 & Beyond: In the third year and beyond, you can typically harvest for 6-8 weeks, enjoying the fruits of your labor!
Important Note: This timeline can vary slightly depending on the variety of asparagus you’re growing and the specific growing conditions in your area.
The Secret to Growing Asparagus
Planting: Sowing asparagus from seed takes way more work and time than starting with one year old crowns. One of the secrets that most asparagus growers use is to plant asparagus using one year old crowns (roots) instead of planting them form seed;)
Patience: It takes several years for asparagus plants to establish and start producing substantial harvests. Resist the urge to harvest heavily in the early years to allow the plants to build strength.
What Variety of Asparagus is Easiest?
Female asparagus plants grow seedlings and red berries that need to be hoed out, like weeds. Because, like weeds, these seedlings will compete with your asparagus plants for food. You can avoid this problem by planting only male varieties like the “Jersey Giant” variety! Rutgers Jersey Knight and Jersey Supreme are all all-male varieties that grow huge asparagus crops, and are disease resistant!
Asparagus plants don’t do well with companion plants either, just like weeds, because asparagus plants need all the nutrition they can get.
Sowing Asparagus from Seed
Starting asparagus from seeds is much cheaper than buying one year old crowns! It just takes more time and work:
Plant asparagus seeds inside 2-3 months before your last frost date. Sow seeds 3/4 of an inch down in pots that have 4 inches of germination soil mix. These seeds need the temperature to be 75-80 degrees F during the day and about 65 degrees F at night. And you should see seedlings emerge in about 3 weeks.
Keep seedlings inside till spring, harden plants off, then after danger of frost is past, transplant seedlings 6-8 inches deep: Dig a W shaped trench, place the center of the crown in the middle high point with the roots going down into the lower W shaped trenches. This helps prevent the roots from water saturation;)

Grow Asparagus from One Year Old Crowns
To grow asparagus from one-year-old crowns, start by preparing a sunny location with well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Depending on the variety you bought, Dig a trench 6-12 inches deep and 12-18 inches wide.
Place the crowns in the trench with the roots spread out and the growing points facing upwards, then cover them with a few inches of soil. As the asparagus spears emerge, gradually add more soil to the trench, covering the emerging spears by a couple of inches each time, until the trench is filled to ground level.
Keep the soil consistently moist, weed-free, and fertilize it: Loosen the soil around asparagus plants in the spring and apply a thick 3-5 inch layer of compost to the garden bed after you’re done harvesting asparagus in the spring and again in the fall after you cut back the dead ferns.
Remember that it takes 2-3 years for asparagus to establish and produce significant harvests, so avoid harvesting during this period to allow the plants to grow and build strength!
Do you need to weed asparagus beds?
YES! When asparagus plants have to compete with weeds for nutrition it produces less and dies faster. Keep garden beds as weed free as possible, and apply mulch in the summer to discourage weeds from rooting in the asparagus bed.
Harvesting
Every following spring, you can harvest spears that are 3/8 of an inch or 1 cc wide and 6-8 inches tall. You should let the skinny spears grow into ferns.
Stop harvesting your asparagus after 4-8 weeks when the spears are mostly small and the tips are more open.
Storing Asparagus
If you have to store asparagus spears, put them in a tub of cold water or stand a bunch of them up with the cut stem side down in 1-2 inches of cold water, then drain them and store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Cooking Asparagus
Asparagus has a sweet nutty flavor when you eat it raw… But it’s also delicious cooked! This roasted asparagus is my favorite way to serve it!