How To Start Growing Asparagus

To start growing asparagus, you need to plant one-year-old crowns in early spring, in a permanent bed that gets full sun and has well-drained soil.
 
Asparagus is a long-term investment, so starting to grow asparagus the right way from day one saves you years of frustration.
 
If you’ve been wondering how to start growing asparagus, the good news is that it’s easier than most people think, as long as you’re patient.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through how to start growing asparagus, when to plant it, how to prepare the bed, and how to care for your first spears.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

How to Start Growing Asparagus the Right Way

Starting to grow asparagus comes down to three big decisions, and getting them right is half the battle.
 
The rest is just patience and a little routine care.
 

1. Start With Crowns, Not Seeds

The fastest way to start growing asparagus is to plant crowns, which are one-year-old dormant roots.
 
Seeds work too, but they add an extra year before you harvest anything, so most gardeners skip them.
 
Crowns give you a head start and are far more reliable for beginners.
 

2. Pick a Permanent Spot

When you start growing asparagus, remember that the bed is forever, because asparagus can produce for 15 to 20 years.
 
Choose a spot in full sun with loose, well-drained soil, since soggy roots rot fast.
 
Avoid areas where water pools, and keep the bed away from hungry lawnmowers and foot traffic.
 

3. Plant at the Right Time

The best time to start growing asparagus is early spring, once the soil is workable but still cool.
 
Plant too late and the crowns struggle to establish before summer heat arrives.
 
If you start growing asparagus in fall, you risk frost damage before roots settle in.
 

How to Plant Asparagus Crowns Step by Step

Planting is where most beginners either set themselves up for success or create years of headaches.
 
Here’s how to do it properly.
 

1. Dig a Trench

Dig a trench about 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep.
 
If you’re planting several crowns, space rows 4 to 5 feet apart.
 
This gives roots room to spread and keeps airflow good.
 

2. Build Small Mounds

Inside the trench, form little mounds of soil every 18 inches.
 
Set each crown on top of a mound and drape the roots down the sides like a little tent.
 
This keeps roots from bunching up and encourages even growth.
 

3. Cover and Water

Cover the crowns with 2 inches of soil and water gently.
 
As shoots grow through the season, keep filling the trench until it’s level with the ground.
 
Never bury the crowns completely at once, as deep planting can smother them.
 

Caring for Asparagus in the First Two Years

The biggest mistake when you start growing asparagus is harvesting too soon.
 
Your job in years one and two is to build strong roots, not fill your plate.
 

1. Water Deeply but Not Often

Asparagus roots go deep, so water slowly and thoroughly about once a week.
 
Dry spells during fern growth weaken the plant for the following year.
 

2. Feed and Mulch

Apply compost or a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again after harvest.
 
Mulch with straw or grass clippings to hold moisture and keep weeds down.
 
Weeds compete hard with young crowns, so stay on top of them.
 

3. Let the Ferns Grow

After the spears finish in summer, they turn into tall, ferny stalks.
 
Don’t cut them down, because those ferns feed the roots for next year’s crop.
 
Cut them back only after they turn brown in late fall or winter.
 

4. Skip the Harvest Until Year Three

When you start growing asparagus, patience pays off big.
 
Harvest lightly in year three for about two weeks, then longer each year after.
 
By year four, you can pick for six to eight weeks and enjoy a real crop.
 

So, How Do You Start Growing Asparagus?

To start growing asparagus, plant one-year-old crowns in early spring in a sunny, well-drained bed, and leave them alone for two years.
 
Starting to grow asparagus this way builds strong roots that reward you with spears for decades.
 
Pick the right spot, plant at the right time, water and feed patiently, and let those ferns flourish.
 
Once you know how to start growing asparagus, you’ll wonder why you didn’t plant it sooner, and your future self will thank you every spring.