Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
Asparagus is a long-lived perennial grown for the tender shoots, or spears, that emerge in spring. Once established, a bed can persist for 15-20 years or more.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular while establishing; drought-tolerant when mature
- Difficulty
- Moderate
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Overview
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a hardy perennial grown for the young shoots that push up from its crown each spring. It takes two to three years to come into full growth.
The spears are simply immature stems; if left uncut they unfurl into tall, airy, fern-like foliage that feeds the underground crown for the next season.
A well-tended asparagus bed is one of the most enduring features of a garden, returning reliably for decades.
How to identify it
- Spears: Smooth, pointed, scale-tipped shoots emerging directly from the soil in spring, green or (when blanched) white
- Mature foliage: Tall, feathery, needle-like cladodes giving a soft fern appearance, 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft) high
- Flowers: Small, bell-shaped, greenish-yellow; plants are usually male or female
- Berries: Female plants bear small red berries in late summer
- Roots: Fleshy, spreading crown of storage roots
Care & growing
Light: Full sun for vigorous spears and healthy ferns.
Water: Keep evenly moist while establishing; mature crowns tolerate some drought but grow best with regular water.
Soil: Deep, free-draining, fertile soil; dislikes waterlogging. pH 6.5-7.5 is ideal.
Temperature: Cold-hardy; needs a winter dormancy and grows in temperate climates.
Feeding: Feed in early spring and again after harvest to build up the crown.
Propagation: From one-year-old crowns planted in trenches, or more slowly from seed. Do not cut heavily for the first two seasons.
Habitat & origin
Asparagus is native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, where it grows wild in coastal areas, riverbanks and other open, sandy or saline sites.
It has been cultivated since ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman times, and is now grown across temperate regions worldwide, with notable production in Peru, China, Germany and the United States.
Frequently asked questions
How long until I can cut asparagus spears?
Wait until the third year after planting crowns. Light cutting can begin in year two; full cutting from year three onward.
Why should I let the spears turn to ferns?
The ferny foliage photosynthesizes and stores energy in the crown for next year's spears. Cutting it all would weaken the plant.
What is white asparagus?
It is the same plant grown with soil or covers mounded over the spears to exclude light, preventing them from turning green.
When do I cut down the foliage?
Let the ferns yellow and die back in autumn, then cut them to the ground before winter to reduce pests and disease.
Asparagus guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Asparagus.
