Growing Asparagus

Aspargus officianalis : Asparagaceae / the asparagus family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                P P P  

(Best months for growing Asparagus in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Easy to grow. Plant as crowns. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 16 inches apart
  • Harvest in 2-3 years. Plant 'crowns' to harvest earlier .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Parsley, Basil, Nasturtiums, Lettuce
  • Avoid growing close to: Garlic, Onions, and root vegetables

Your comments and tips

24 Jul 20, SueEllen LePage (Australia - temperate climate)
I am currently growing white asparagus and the plants are in their 3rd year. It is winter and the asparagus is giving me some large spears that I have harvested and eaten. I am leaving the smaller spears. Now that the smaller spears are growing into ferns, should I continue to cut the larger spears or should I leave them all to grow? Also I always thought asparagus was a spring crop, why am I getting such a crop?
27 Jul 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Why a crop this time of year, probably because you have kept watering them. I did that establishing my asparagus the first two years. I'm sub-tropical and I stop watering mine the end of April, just the odd watering, not heavy, we have had very little rain since mid March. I actually cut my ferns yesterday, will not fertilise, compost and water until the end of August. I only eat my asparagus for about 5 weeks last year in the spring. But I cut my ferns off in Jan and had about 3-4 weeks of spears before letting them fern again. If the crown is biggish 9-12
06 Aug 20, Diane (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi i have just moved to Gladstone and i have always tried to grow Asparagus however i am never in a place long enough to eat any of it. i was told to wait until the ferns have gone yellow before you cut them down is this a fact or fiction. thanks
24 Jun 20, Alice (Australia - temperate climate)
I have bought some asparagus crowns and grew them yesterday, should I take them out and leave them until August?
25 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You could take them out of the soil. If you leave in the soil don't water them much. They won't start sending up spears until August-Sept.
21 Jun 20, Maggie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have just purchased some asparagus crowns and read that it is best to wait until at least August/ September to plant them. Should I keep the crowns moist in the meantime or let them dry out?
22 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When you bought them they should have been dry, leave them the way they are. They are in a dormancy state over winter. A tip, don't buy things until it is time to plant.
16 Jun 20, Deidre Girdler (Australia - temperate climate)
Have just purchased 4 crowns of asparagus They have very long roots Should I trim before planting?
19 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
Trim back to about 200mm long. Read up how to plant them and don't plant until August..
25 May 20, Liz Timperley (New Zealand - temperate climate)
In Northland when is the best time to plant and where can you get the crowns from please?
Showing 171 - 180 of 579 comments

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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