Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
An investment in the future. Asparagus takes three years before you can harvest your first cut spears, but once established it will crop reliably for twenty years or more. That first May morning when you cut fresh spears, drizzle them with butter, and eat them standing in the garden makes every year of waiting worthwhile.
SowingStart indoors
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧 Low
Days to harvest730–1095
Soil pH6.5–7.5
Spacing45cm × 45cm
Planting Calendar
🌏 Adjusted for southern hemisphere seasons.
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Planting Crowns
Buying one-year-old crowns gives a year's head start over growing from seed. Plant in spring in a trench 20cm deep with a ridge of soil running along the base. Spread the roots of each crown over the ridge and cover with 5cm of soil, gradually filling the trench as plants grow.The Three-Year Wait
Do not harvest in the first year. In the second year, take only a few spears per plant for no longer than two weeks. From the third year onwards, cut spears over a 6–8 week season.Summer Care
After the harvest season, allow the ferns to grow freely — they manufacture the energy reserves that next year's crop depends on. Do not cut them down until they yellow in autumn.Soil: Deep, free-draining, sandy loam. Asparagus will not tolerate waterlogged soil.