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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22 Nov 20, Shona Mardle (New Zealand - temperate climate)
My 3rd year for asparagus, so first year picking with abundance. I seem to have a lot of tall skinny spindly hard shoots. I have been cutting them off. Why are they growing? Is it something I am doing wrong? Does the plant need them?
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23 Nov 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Mine are 3-4 years old. What I do now. Cut old ferns off late August (sub- tropical) then apply a few hand fulls of rooster booster from Bunnings per crown. It is only 4-3-3 organic fertiliser. I then put a 6
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19 Nov 20, Kate (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi - I planted asparagus crowns in early September. I'm in mid Canterbury. Nothing has come up yet at all. Is it likely my crowns rotted or do I need to be more patient! Thanks
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19 Nov 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Read up about how to plant the crowns. They would only need a light watering each second day. Dig around one to see what is happening. Put in good friable soil not clay soil.
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14 Nov 20, cheri (USA - Zone 7b climate)
How much sun do asparagus plants need? I live in zone 7.
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16 Nov 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Can handle full sun but will grow in situation where sun in morning and shade in arvo. Google and read up about it.
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08 Nov 20, Jean (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I live in Nipomo ca 9 b why can’t s as I grow asparagus from crowns?
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09 Nov 20, (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Sounds like you live in arid desert country. If so it might not grow in those conditions. If you have better conditions than desert you could try. Google about growing it.
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19 Oct 20, SUSIE (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
CAN ASPARAGUS BE PLANTED IN NORTHERN NSW
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20 Oct 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
There is an article here about growing it. Go to the blue climate zone tab at the top of page, work out your climate zone. Go to Asparagus - the Monthly calendar tells you when to plant.
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The transplanted ones will depend on how they were treated last year - whether they were left to build up energy reserves for this year. If you had plenty of spears grow into ferns then they should produce this year. Probably also depends how old the old crowns are. Last year while I was growing mine from 12 mth crowns to 24 mths I use to put about half a cup of fert in 9 L of water and feed them each month - only had 3 crowns. I also put manure/compost on in august. I have crowns that are coming up to 3 years old - that is from when seeds were planted - they have been shooting spears for a few weeks now - I have cut them back and manured and watered them. My seedlings which will be 12 mths old in Sept - I have not cut them back yet or put manure on them yet - will probably do that in about two weeks time. I have not watered them for the last month - they are not growing at the moment. As for manure - chicken is the richest in N followed by cow and then horse manure. I read the other day horse is about 1.75% N. Whatever manure you can get and add some fert if you like. We have had only one week of cool weather so far this winter - that is night temps down to 6-8 degrees.

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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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