How to Grow Asparagus From Rootstock

Asparagus is one of the earliest crops appearing in backyard gardens. These delicate spears emerge from a perennial plant that is often started from 1-year-old crowns with already developed roots. Rooted crowns are the most reliable way of starting asparagus. These plants are vigorous and healthy, even if dormant when planted, unlike seeds that might leave you guessing for months.

Tiller
Complete fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Work the future asparagus bed with a tiller to a depth of 6 to 12 inches early in the spring. Dig furrows in loose, well-draining soil that is approximately 8 inches deep and 12 inches wide, space trenches 4 to 6 feet apart. Apply a complete fertilizer to the bottom of each trench and cover with 1 to 2 inches of soil.
- 2
  Arrange the rooted crowns in the trench’s bottom with 18 inches of space between plants once the soil temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover each crown with 2 inches of soil. Watch for shoots to appear and gradually fill the trench even with the surrounding bed. Water the new plants if drought conditions appear, otherwise they do not require supplemental watering.
- 3
  Wait to cut spears from your asparagus bed until the third growth year. Snap off spears that are 6 to 8 inches tall in May and early June. Leave spindly spears and any spears appearing after June to grow into ferns. Applying 3 to 4 inches of mulch in the fall helps the asparagus survive the winter. Mow ferns in the spring before new spears appear in May.
- 4
  Apply a complete fertilizer or high-quality compost to the asparagus bed yearly before spring growth begins and remove any weeds that appear. Harvest asparagus for up to 10 weeks during and after the fourth year of growth.

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