Your Cool Home is supported by its readers. Please assume all links are affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of our links, we make a small commission from Amazon. Thank you!
To plant dried asparagus roots, you simply rehydrate them and bury them in a trench about 6 to 8 inches deep.
It sounds a bit technical, but it’s actually one of the most rewarding things you can do in a garden.
If you’ve ever wondered how to plant dried asparagus roots, you’re in the right place because these humble brown crowns are the secret to a delicious harvest that comes back year after year.
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to plant dried asparagus roots step by step, from rehydrating them to caring for your new bed.
Let’s dig in.
Why You Should Plant Dried Asparagus Roots
Planting dried asparagus roots is a smart move for any gardener.
Here’s why:
1. They’re Cheaper Than Crowns
When you plant dried asparagus roots, you’re getting the most affordable way to start a bed.
A bundle of dried roots costs a fraction of what you’d pay for potted plants or fresh crowns from a nursery.
And since asparagus is a long-term investment that can produce for 15 to 20 years, saving money at the start is a nice bonus.
2. They Ship and Store Easily
Dried asparagus roots are lightweight and don’t need soil or special packaging.
That means you can order them online, toss them in a drawer, and plant them when the timing is right.
Just don’t let them sit around for months because the roots will lose viability over time.
3. Strong Root Development
When you plant dried asparagus roots properly, they wake up fast and send out strong, healthy roots.
Unlike crowns that may have been sitting in a pot for weeks, dried roots get a fresh start in your soil.
This can lead to better establishment and more vigorous growth in the long run.
How to Plant Dried Asparagus Roots Step by Step
So how do you actually plant dried asparagus roots?
Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to a thriving asparagus patch:
1. Rehydrate the Roots First
Before you plant dried asparagus roots, you need to wake them up.
Soak the roots in a bucket of lukewarm water for about 2 to 4 hours.
This softens them up and helps them absorb moisture so they’re ready to grow.
Don’t soak them overnight because overly wet roots can rot before they even hit the ground.
2. Pick the Right Spot
Asparagus loves full sun and well-drained soil.
Find a spot where your asparagus roots will get at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.
Also, make sure the soil isn’t soggy because standing water is a death sentence for asparagus roots.
Raised beds or sandy loam soil work great here.
3. Dig a Trench
To plant dried asparagus roots, dig a trench about 6 to 8 inches deep.
If you’re planting more than one row, space them 3 to 4 feet apart.
Within the row, space your asparagus roots about 12 to 18 inches apart.
This gives each plant enough room to spread its roots without competition.
4. Create Small Mounds
Inside the trench, form small mounds of soil spaced at your planting intervals.
Then, drape the roots over each mound like a little tent.
The crown should sit on top of the mound with the roots splaying out and down.
This is the correct way to plant dried asparagus roots because it prevents air pockets and encourages roots to grow downward.
5. Cover and Water
Cover the roots with 2 to 3 inches of soil.
Don’t fill the entire trench right away.
As the shoots grow through the season, gradually fill the trench with more soil until it’s level.
Water thoroughly after planting your dried asparagus roots to settle the soil around them.
Caring for Asparagus Roots After Planting
Once you plant dried asparagus roots, the work isn’t over.
Here’s how to keep them happy:
1. Water Consistently
Asparagus roots need steady moisture, especially in their first year.
Aim for about 1 inch of water per week from rain or irrigation.
Don’t let the soil dry out completely, but don’t drown them either.
2. Keep Weeds Away
Weeds compete for nutrients and water, and young asparagus plants are vulnerable.
Mulch around your asparagus roots with straw or compost to suppress weeds.
Just keep the mulch a few inches away from the stems to prevent rot.
3. Fertilize Lightly
After you plant dried asparagus roots, wait a few weeks before feeding.
Then apply a balanced fertilizer or compost tea once a month during the growing season.
Avoid heavy nitrogen in the first year because it can burn tender new roots.
4. Be Patient
Here’s the tough part: you shouldn’t harvest asparagus the first year after you plant dried asparagus roots.
Give them a full year to establish.
You can take a light harvest in the second year, and by the third year, you’ll get a full crop.
Common Mistakes When You Plant Dried Asparagus Roots
Even experienced gardeners slip up when they plant dried asparagus roots.
Watch out for these:
1. Planting Too Deep
If you bury your asparagus roots too deep, the shoots struggle to reach the surface.
Stick to the 6 to 8 inch trench and cover gradually.
Deep planting is one of the main reasons dried asparagus roots fail.
2. Skipping the Soak
Planting dried asparagus roots without rehydrating them is like planting a rock.
They need that soak to soften up and absorb water.
Don’t skip this step if you want your dried asparagus roots to grow.
3. Poor Drainage
Asparagus hates wet feet.
If your soil holds water, amend it with compost or plant in raised beds.
Otherwise, your dried asparagus roots will rot before they ever produce a spear.
So, How Do You Plant Dried Asparagus Roots?
To plant dried asparagus roots, you rehydrate them, dig a trench, form mounds, drape the roots, and cover them gradually.
It’s not complicated, but it does require a little patience and planning.
When you plant dried asparagus roots the right way, you’re setting yourself up for decades of fresh, homegrown asparagus.
And trust me, there’s nothing quite like walking out to your garden and snapping off a few spears for dinner.