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

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03 Jun 22, Mary Grace Dizon (Australia - tropical climate)
What is the best seed variety for tropical climate that’s hardy and disease tolerant?
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06 Jun 22, (Australia - tropical climate)
You are better growing from crowns. Read other posting about buying crowns from Bunnings. If you want seeds go on the internet to Boondie Seeds and look at their varieties.
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13 May 22, WayneReal (Australia - tropical climate)
When are Fat Bastard Asparagus crowns available? What size and price please Postage to 4703 Thanks Wayne
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29 Apr 22, james gray (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted green and purple asparagus about 2 years ago in a raised bed, 2 hours south of Perth in Lowden.. All the plants fronds are massive now, maybe 500mm high, falling over and hanging out of the bed itself, still very green and very healthy. I am wondering when do I trim the fronds off back to ground level and then fertilise with chook manure, etc, and mulch again?
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19 Apr 22, Dawn (USA - Zone 10a climate)
When you buy crowns does only one shoot grow from one crown? It looks like from pictures that there is more shoots coming up if your planting them 8 to 12 inches apart? Since we live in central coastal California is it best to go to a nursery in town for buying the two year old crowns?
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21 Apr 22, (USA - Zone 5a climate)
The crown will produce many spears. As it grows it produces more and more over the years. Plant 2' apart. Buy 1 or 2 year crowns.
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18 Apr 22, Wendy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I’m on the Sunshine Coast Qld. It’s autumn now so do I cut back my asparagus plant now. It’s starting to die off but still sending spears up. Thanks
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21 Apr 22, (Australia - temperate climate)
Leave until late August to cut back, then fertilise, compost and water. Stop watering in the next month.
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19 Apr 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I stop watering at the end of April and just leave it. I cut back the end of August and apply fertiliser then water and 4-6 (??)
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21 Feb 22, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello my plant is about 4yrs old was getting skinny shoots until I put dried chicken manure from my chooks on and within weeks I started getting thicker shoots the size of an index finger, I'm in Alice Springs where we get minus 5 temps in winter when is the best time to prune as I've never pruned it before. Thank you looking forward to hearing from you.
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Showing 71 - 80 of 565 comments
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Are they two years old from seed or crowns?I believe the ferns die in the colder weather but not in sub-tropics /tropics. I'm sub tropic and they have not died in the last 3 years. I even stopped watering in early May this year and we have had a very dry time since then. I would cut the old ones out. Pick some of the new spears and eat. Depending on how many spears you are getting probably stop picking in about 4 weeks and let grow for next year. You have to let the crown grow in the first 2-3 years. In future from about Nov or so let the spears go to ferns-even while you are picking leave a couple go to ferns. Leave the ferns there until mid August-the ferns are growing the crown and storing nutrient in the crown for spears next year. Then cut them off and put 50-75mm of compost or aged manure on them and start watering them. And by compost I mean fully broken down organic matter or manure. Not mulch.

- Anon

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