How to Propagate Asparagus From the Seed

Asparagus, a member of the lily family, is considered a spring vegetable. It is also one of the pricier vegetables at the market. Asparagus is a time-intensive crop, harvested in its third year of growth. Growing the vegetable from seed adds another year to that time frame. Start the asparagus seeds indoors three months before the last frost in your area. If you are unsure of this date, call your county cooperative extension office for advice.

Bowl
Fungicide powder
Paper bag or small paintbrush
Sand
Planting pots
Heat mat
Grow lights

Instructions

- 1
  Soak the asparagus seed in water at room temperature for 48 hours. Lay them on a newspaper to dry.
- 2
  Dust the seeds with fungicide. Two easy ways to do this is to pour the fungicide and the seeds into a small bag and shake the bag gently until the seeds are coated. You can also use a small paintbrush to dust the seeds.
- 3
  Pour the sand into the planting pots and run water over it until it is uniformly moist. Allow the pot to drain completely. The sand should be just barely moist when you plant the seeds.
- 4
  Determine the diameter of the seeds and plant them 4 times that measurement into the sand. Cover with more sand and place the pot in a lightly shady area, on a heat mat set to 75 to 80 degrees F. Keep the sand slightly moist. Your seeds should germinate within two to three weeks.
- 5
  Move the asparagus seedlings off the heat mat and 6 inches under grow lights when they sprout. As the plants grow, raise the lights so the plants remain 6 inches beneath them.
- 6
  Transplant the seedlings into the garden in the spring when the soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees F.

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