How to Grow Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
A patient gardener’s dream — one planting that feeds you for decades.
By the Plants by Zone Editorial Team · Reviewed June 1, 2026
About asparagus
Asparagus is a hardy perennial that, once established, produces tender spring spears for 15–20 years or more. It demands patience: you wait two to three years before a full harvest while the crowns build strength. In return, a well-prepared bed becomes one of the most rewarding long-term crops in the garden.
When to plant and harvest asparagus
Timing is relative to your frost dates. Find your USDA zone for exact dates, or browse the month-by-month calendars.
Start seeds indoors
12–14 weeks before last frost (if growing from seed)
Transplant outdoors
Set crowns in early spring
Direct sow
Crowns planted early spring as soil can be worked
Harvest
Spring, once the bed is established
How to grow asparagus step by step
- 1
Prepare a permanent, weed-free bed with deep, rich, well-drained soil — this is a 20-year commitment.
- 2
Plant one-year-old crowns in trenches 6–8 in deep, spreading the roots over a mound.
- 3
Backfill gradually as the spears grow through the season.
- 4
Do not harvest the first year, and only lightly the second — let the ferns feed the roots.
- 5
Let the summer ferns grow tall; they recharge the crowns for next spring.
- 6
Cut down dead ferns in late fall and top-dress with compost.
Common problems growing asparagus
⚠ Thin, spindly spears
Usually young or overharvested crowns — stop cutting by early summer and feed well so roots rebuild.
⚠ Asparagus beetles on spears and ferns
Hand-pick beetles and eggs, and keep the bed clean of debris over winter.
⚠ Weedy, declining bed
Asparagus hates competition — mulch heavily and weed by hand; never let weeds take hold.
✗ Keep away from
🧺 Harvesting asparagus
Once established, snap or cut spears at ground level when they are 6–8 inches tall and the tips are still tight, harvesting for about 6–8 weeks each spring. Then stop and let the ferns grow all summer — that foliage is what powers next year’s crop.
Asparagus: frequently asked questions
How long until I can harvest asparagus?＋
Wait until the second year for a light cut and the third year for a full harvest. Early restraint lets the crowns build the strength for decades of spears.
Why are my asparagus spears so thin?＋
Often the crowns are young or were harvested too long. Stop cutting by early summer, feed the bed, and let the ferns rebuild the roots.
Grow asparagus in your zone
See exactly when to plant and what else to grow alongside asparagus, tailored to your USDA hardiness zone.
When to plant asparagus by zone:
