General
Planting asparagus from seed is an exercise in patience, but one of the most rewarding of all garden tasks. Seeds germinate slowly, and crowns take three seasons before they can handle being harvested. But the grower's patience is generously rewarded by early season harvests of asparagus with a flavour you will not find on store shelves anywhere. You will wish you had planted a bigger asparagus bed!
Latin
Asparagus officinalis.
Family: Liliaceae
Difficulty
Moderately difficult. Requires patience!
Season & Zone
Season: Cool season.
Exposure: Full-sun.
Zone: Hardy from Zone 2 to 8.
Timing
Start seeds indoors mid-February to May under bright lights. You won't start harvesting these long-lived perennials until 3 years after planting so be patient. Soil temperature for germination: 21–30ºC (70–85ºF).
Starting
Soak seeds for 2 hours. Plant 1 seed per 5cm (2") pot, 1cm (½") deep. Keep in a warm place. Be patient: they can take 2-8 weeks to sprout depending on soil temperature. Transplant when seedlings are 10-12 weeks old and danger of frost has passed. Space 45cm (18") apart in rows 1-2m (3-6') apart. Place each plant in a hole 10cm (4:) deep and gradually cover the crown with soil as it grows. For thicker spears, space 30-35cm (12-14") apart and set buds 15-20cm (6-8") in the hole. For thinner spears, space 20-25cm (8-10") with the budes 10cm (4") deep.
Growing
Fertilize after harvest and again in the spring with 1-2 cups of complete organic fertilizer per 3m (10') of row, worked in lightly. Asparagus needs 2cm (1") of water per week. In late fall, trim ferns down to 5cm (2") and dispose of cuttings to avoid future disease and insect problems.
Harvest
It's important to not harvest until the third year so that plants can become established and strong. Then harvest over a 2-3 week period. Cut the fattest spears off at ground level when they are 15-20cm (6-10") long. When thinner spears begin to emerge let them to grow into big fronds to nourish the roots. With each successive year the harvest lengthens to a maximum of 6-8 weeks. Store in the refrigerator wrapped in a damp paper towel.
Seed Info
In optimum conditions at least 75% of seeds should germinate. Usual seed life: 2 years.
Diseases & Pests
Rust, fusarium wilt and fusarium stem and
crown rot. Using seed started in sterile soil instead of
purchased plants, and planting in soil that has no history of disease will keep
your plants healthy.
Asparagus beetles can defoliate the ferns. They overwinter in the top growth, so thorough removal of the fronds in the fall (after they have died) is vital. In a small garden handpick the voracious insects.
Encouraging beneficials like ladybugs reduces aphids. Aphids are usually found together on growing tips (look for the sooty blotches they leave behind).
