Asparagus crowns that are marked “2-year crowns” supposedly allow you to harvest spears just one year after planting. However, the process of transplanting asparagus plants after they’ve already established their roots can damage them, and they typically still need two full years in the same soil before they reach full production.
Full sun. Asparagus does best in sunny conditions. Since it comes up early in the spring, it’s ok to choose a place near trees that don’t yet have leaves. Just make sure the asparagus bed isn’t shadowed by a group of trees or a building. Well-drained soil. The soil should be loose and have excellent drainage. Asparagus planted in waterlogged soil will rot. Space for a raised bed. This is optional, since asparagus do fine in the ground, but it’s easier to keep their bed free of weeds and completely drained when it’s raised. [1] X Research source
Asparagus plants are monoecious, meaning that each plant is either male or female. The female plants put energy into producing seeds, so they don’t produce as many spears as the males. Some varieties of asparagus have been engineered to produce only male plants. You only need to plant half as many crowns of a male-only variety to get the same yield, since you won’t need to weed out the female plants. [2] X Research source Asparagus seeds aren’t usually separated by sex, so the female plants are weeded out once they sprout. Choose a rust-resistant variety, such as one of the many “Jersey” varieties or a “Mary Washington. " [3] X Research source If you’re buying crowns, pick healthy-looking crowns that are a grayish-brown color, large and plump. Buy them just a day or so before planting them. Purple asparagus and other heirloom varieties are available at nurseries. You can create white asparagus by shielding the spears from the sun with soil.
Be sure to dig the plants up while they are still dormant. Don’t wait until they start their second growing season, or they will suffer from transplant shock.
Dig trenches for planting. Trenches should be 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) deep and around 12 inches (30 cm) wide. If you are planting multiple rows, space the trenches 2 to 3 feet (0. 6 to 0. 9 m) apart. Make ridges in the trenches. Mix the soil that you removed from the trenches with organic compost, and spread 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm) of the enriched soil into the bottom center of each trench to form a center ridge. You can also mix in rock phosphate, a mineral powder that encourages root growth. [5] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U. K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
Cover the roots and crowns with soil. Place soil over the roots and over the crowns by 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm). Water the area thoroughly after you are done planting. [6] X Research source
Spears are ready to be harvested when they are about 6 inches (15 cm) high, and the tips begin to loosen. Limit the first harvest to two or three weeks, picking spears every few days, and taking care not to pick too many from the same plant. Spears will come up thinner the longer you harvest. A good rule of thumb is to stop harvesting once the spears are about the size of a pencil, allowing the plant to devote energy to its root systems from then on. The following year, extend your harvest time to four or five weeks. In the succeeding years, you can extend it to six. [8] X Research source
