Asparagus — FarmPal
The ultimate long-term investment. Plant once, harvest for 20+ years.
Sun
full
Water
moderate
Spacing
18 inches apart, rows 4-5 feet apart
Days to Harvest
First light harvest year 2. Full harvest year 3+.
Planting Depth
6-8 inch trench for crowns
Companion Plants
Tomatoes
Parsley
Basil
Marigolds
Avoid Planting Near
Garlic
Onions
Potatoes
Common Pests
Asparagus beetle
Aphids
Cutworms
Diseases to Watch
Fusarium crown rot
Rust
Purple spot
Growing Tips
- •Plant crowns (not seeds) for fastest harvest
- •Patience! Don't harvest the first year at all
- •Amend soil deeply this bed will last 20+ years
- •Let fronds grow after harvest season to feed crowns
- •Cut fronds back in late fall after they brown
Harvesting
- •Snap spears at ground level when 6-8 inches tall
- •Harvest for 2-3 weeks year 2, 6-8 weeks year 3+
- •Stop when new spears are pencil-thin
- •Harvest every 2-3 days during season
Storage
Refrigerator 5-7 days standing in water. Blanch and freeze.
Varieties
Jersey Knight
All-male hybrid. Very productive. Disease resistant.
Mary Washington
Heirloom standard. Adaptable. Open-pollinated.
Purple Passion
Sweet purple spears. Turns green when cooked.
Millennium
Very cold-hardy. Good for northern gardens.