Propagate by seed, division or separation - Purchase disease-free, 1-year-old crowns for planting. Divide plants in early spring, if desired. Asparagus can also be grown from seed, but requires an extra year to establish.

Germination temperature: 70 F to 77 F

Days to emergence: 10 to 12

Seed can be saved 3 years.

Carefully consider site before planting this long-lived perennial. Test soil and apply phosphorus, potassium and lime as indictated before planting. Avoid frost pockets as late killing frosts will damage spears.

Plant crowns 4 to 6 weeks before average last frost, 18 to 24 inches apart in trenches 8 inches deep. (5 inches deep for Jersey series cultivars.) Spread roots in bottom of trench and cover with 1 to 2 inches of soil. Gradually cover with more soil as the plants grow.

Do not cut back ferns in fall until they die naturally.

For highest yields, plant all-male hybrids, such as the Jersey series from Rutgers University (Jersey Giant, Jersey King, Jersey Knight). If using older varieties, such as Martha Washington, you can identify the less productive female plants at flowering and replace them with male plants. The flowers on male plants are larger and longer than the female flowers, have six stamens and a small nonfunctional pistil. The female flowers have six small nonfunctional pistils and a well developed, three-lobed stamen.

Water during dry spells during the first year. Do not overwater as plants don’t tolerate water-logged soils.

To blanch asparagus, carefully hill soil over spears or grow under opaque buckets or row covers.

Midsummer mulching with hay, straw, leaves or grass clippings helps control weeds and keep soil from drying out. (Be careful not to bring in weed seeds with your mulch.) Regular applications of compost or well-rotted manure provide a steady source of nutrients.

Weeds can be challenging. Keep plantings well cultivated and mulched to prevent weeds from getting established. Mulch heavily around plantings to keep spreading weeds such as quackgrass from invading. While plants are salt-tolerant, the old practice of using salt to kill weeds is not recommended. With older varieties that are not all-male, weed out volunteer plants from females that set seed.

Asparagus beetles (common and spotted) - Handpick in small plantings.

Fusarium wilt, crown rot - Use disease-free crowns or seed. If you are starting with seedlings, do not overharvest. Rogue plants that are severely diseased. Remove and discard or destroy entire infested plant along with immediately surrounding soil and soil clinging to roots.

Other diseases: Rust (Puccinia aparagi)

Browse asparagus varieties at our Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners website.

Varieties recommended for New York include:

Jersey Knight and Jersey King - Widely adapted, do well in warm climates.
Jersey Giant - Good for colder regions.

The Jersey series from Rutgers University in New Jersey features hybrids with all-male plants and good resistance to rust and fusarium crown- and root-rots. Yields two to three times more than open-pollinated varieties.