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To plant store bought asparagus, you can actually grow it from the crowns or even the roots you find at the grocery store or garden center.
Yes, planting store bought asparagus is totally possible, and it’s a great way to start your own perennial patch without buying expensive seeds.
However, not every store bought asparagus will sprout, so you need to know which type to buy and how to treat it before planting.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to plant store bought asparagus step by step, from picking the right bundle to caring for your new bed.
Let’s dig in.
Why You Can Plant Store Bought Asparagus
Store bought asparagus can be planted because the crowns and roots are still alive and capable of growing.
But the key is knowing what you’re buying.
1. Asparagus Crowns Are the Best Choice
When you plant store bought asparagus, always look for crowns, not the thin spears in the produce aisle.
Crowns are one-year-old roots that nurseries sell specifically for planting.
Those spears you eat are just the tips of the plant, and they won’t grow into new plants.
So if you want to plant store bought asparagus successfully, buy dormant crowns from a garden center or online supplier.
2. Grocery Store Asparagus Roots Can Work Sometimes
You might wonder if you can plant store bought asparagus from the grocery store.
The answer is maybe.
If the bundle still has a bit of root base attached and hasn’t dried out completely, it can sometimes send up a shoot.
But grocery store asparagus is usually harvested for eating, so the roots are often trimmed off.
That makes it hit or miss, so don’t rely on it for a full bed.
3. Freshness Matters More Than You Think
When you plant store bought asparagus, the fresher the crowns, the better.
Dry, shriveled crowns may never wake up.
Look for plump, firm roots with visible buds.
If you buy crowns online, plant them as soon as they arrive.
That’s how you give store bought asparagus the best chance to grow.
How to Plant Store Bought Asparagus Step by Step
Planting store bought asparagus isn’t complicated, but you need to prepare the bed right.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Choose a Sunny Spot with Good Drainage
Asparagus loves full sun, so pick a spot that gets at least six to eight hours of direct light.
The soil must drain well because soggy roots rot fast.
If your soil is heavy clay, mix in compost or raised bed soil.
Good drainage is non-negotiable when you plant store bought asparagus.
2. Prepare the Soil Deeply
Asparagus roots go deep, so loosen the soil at least twelve to fifteen inches down.
Mix in plenty of aged manure or compost.
Asparagus is a heavy feeder, and it will reward you for years if you feed the soil now.
A soil pH around 6.5 to 7.5 is ideal.
3. Dig Trenches for the Crowns
Dig trenches about six to eight inches deep and twelve inches wide.
Space trenches three to four feet apart.
If you plant store bought asparagus in rows, this spacing keeps the ferns from crowding later.
4. Set the Crowns and Cover Them Gradually
Place crowns in the trench with the buds pointing up and roots spread out.
Space them twelve to eighteen inches apart.
Cover with just two inches of soil at first.
As shoots grow, keep filling the trench until it’s level.
This gradual covering is the secret to strong store bought asparagus plants.
5. Water and Mulch
Water deeply after planting.
Keep the bed moist but not soggy for the first few weeks.
Add a layer of mulch to hold moisture and block weeds.
That’s how you plant store bought asparagus and help it settle in fast.
Care After Planting Store Bought Asparagus
Once your store bought asparagus is in the ground, patience is your best tool.
1. Don’t Harvest the First Year
When you plant store bought asparagus, you must let it grow undisturbed for at least one full year.
The spears need to turn into tall ferns that feed the roots.
If you cut them too soon, you weaken the plant.
2. Keep Weeds Away
Weeds compete hard with young asparagus.
Mulch helps, but hand pull any weeds that sneak through.
Don’t use a hoe near the crowns because you can damage them.
3. Fertilize in Spring and Fall
Feed your store bought asparagus with a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring.
After the ferns die back in fall, cut them down and add more compost.
That cycle keeps the bed productive for fifteen to twenty years.
4. Water During Dry Spells
Asparagus is drought tolerant once established, but young plants need consistent moisture.
Give them about an inch of water per week.
That’s especially important the first summer after you plant store bought asparagus.
So, How Do You Plant Store Bought Asparagus?
To plant store bought asparagus, buy dormant crowns instead of eating spears, dig a deep trench, cover the roots gradually, and wait a year before harvesting.
It’s not an instant crop, but it’s one of the most rewarding perennial vegetables you can grow.
With the right start, your store bought asparagus will feed you for decades.
So grab some crowns, prep that sunny bed, and plant store bought asparagus this season.