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You start growing asparagus by planting crowns or seeds in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
It’s a long-term commitment, but once established, an asparagus bed can produce for 15 to 20 years or more.
If you’ve been wondering how to start growing asparagus, the good news is that it’s easier than most people think.
You just need patience, because you won’t harvest much in the first couple of years.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to start growing asparagus from crowns and seeds, when to plant, and how to care for your bed so it thrives.
Let’s dig in.
How Do You Start Growing Asparagus?
You start growing asparagus by choosing the right method, the right spot, and the right time.
Here’s how to get it right from day one.
1. Choose Between Crowns and Seeds
Most gardeners start growing asparagus from one-year-old crowns because they’re faster and more reliable.
Crowns are dormant roots that you plant directly into the ground, and they’ll send up spears within weeks.
Starting asparagus from seed is cheaper but slower, adding a full year before you can even think about harvesting.
If you’re patient and want more plants for less money, seeds work fine.
But if you want the quickest path to a harvest, crowns are the way to start growing asparagus.
2. Pick a Sunny, Well-Drained Spot
Asparagus needs at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day.
It also hates soggy roots, so choose a spot with loose, well-drained soil.
If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with compost or plant in a raised bed.
This step matters more than most people realize when you start growing asparagus.
A bed that stays wet will rot the crowns before they ever produce a single spear.
3. Plant at the Right Time
The best time to start growing asparagus is in early spring, once the soil is workable but still cool.
Plant crowns about four to six weeks before your last expected frost.
If you’re starting asparagus from seed, begin them indoors in late winter or sow them directly outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
Timing your planting well gives your asparagus a full season to establish roots before winter.
How to Plant Asparagus Crowns Step by Step
Planting crowns correctly is the secret to a healthy bed that lasts for decades.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Dig a Trench
Dig a trench about 12 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep.
Space your rows about 4 feet apart so the ferns have room to grow.
2. Build Up the Soil
Mix in plenty of compost at the bottom of the trench.
Then form small mounds of soil spaced about 18 inches apart along the trench.
3. Set the Crowns on the Mounds
Place each crown on top of a mound and spread the roots out like a spider.
The crown should sit just below the soil surface.
4. Cover and Water
Cover the crowns with about 2 inches of soil and water them in gently.
As the spears grow through the season, keep filling the trench until it’s level with the ground.
This gradual covering is exactly how you start growing asparagus the right way.
Caring for Asparagus as It Grows
Once your asparagus is in the ground, a little care goes a long way.
Here’s what to focus on.
1. Water Regularly
Give your bed about an inch of water per week, especially during dry spells.
Consistent moisture helps the crowns establish strong roots.
2. Weed Carefully
Keep the bed weed-free, but weed by hand to avoid disturbing the crowns.
A layer of mulch helps suppress weeds and retain moisture.
3. Fertilize in Spring
Feed your asparagus bed with a balanced fertilizer each spring before spears emerge.
This keeps the plants vigorous year after year.
4. Let the Ferns Grow
After harvest season ends, let the spears turn into tall, bushy ferns.
Those ferns feed the crowns for next year’s crop.
Don’t cut them back until they turn brown in late fall or winter.
5. Be Patient With Harvesting
This is the hardest part of growing asparagus.
Don’t harvest anything the first year, and only take a light harvest the second year.
By the third year, you can harvest for about six to eight weeks each spring.
That patience is what makes growing asparagus so rewarding in the long run.
Common Mistakes When You Start Growing Asparagus
A few missteps can set your bed back years, so watch out for these.
1. Planting in Wet Soil
Asparagus roots rot quickly in waterlogged ground.
Always prioritize drainage when you start growing asparagus.
2. Harvesting Too Soon
Picking spears in year one weakens the crowns.
Give them time to build strength first.
3. Skipping the Trench Method
Burying crowns too deep all at once can smother them.
Fill the trench gradually as the spears grow.
So, How Do You Start Growing Asparagus?
You start growing asparagus by planting crowns or seeds in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
It’s a long-term commitment, but once established, an asparagus bed can produce for 15 to 20 years or more.
Choose crowns for faster results, plant in early spring, and take care of the bed with water, mulch, and patience.
Skip the harvest for the first two years and you’ll be rewarded with decades of fresh spears.
Now you know exactly how to start growing asparagus, so grab some crowns and get planting.