Asparagus Growing Guide
| Soil Temp for Germ. | Days to Emergence | Seed Depth | Soil Temp for Trans. | Plant Spacing | Row Spacing | Min. Germ. | Seed Life | Seeds per gram | Fertilizer Needs |
| 65-80°F | 10-25 | 1/4" | 40-45°F | 10-15" | 3-6' | 75% | 3 years | N/A | High |
Culture
• Asparagus plants are dioecious, meaning there are both male & female plants
• Male plants produce thicker larger spears
• Female plants produce small berries
• Asparagus is a hardy perennial
• The key to good production is well-prepared, deeply dug beds with lots of organic matter
• Fertilize beds early in the spring and after harvest with 1–2 cups of TSC's Complete fertilizer per 10 row feet
• Keep beds moist
Direct Sowing
• Not recommended
Transplanting
• Start transplants 60–90 days before your last frost
• Transplant seedlings after the danger of frost
Asparagus Root Crowns
• Plant your 1 year old crowns shortly after you receive them
• Crowns can be transplanted 4–6 weeks before last frost
• Dig a 4–6 inch trench; create a hill in the center
• Drape roots over the hill; cover roots with soil
• Fill in trench as asparagus grows
• Complete instructions are included
Insects & Diseases
• Common pests: Asparagus beetles and slugs
• Pest control: Pyrethrin, slug traps or bait
• Common diseases: Rust, Fusarium wilt, Fusarium stem and crown rot
• Disease prevention: Maintaining good plant vigor
Harvest & Storage
• A moderate 2–3 week harvest can be expected from crowns in 2–3 years
• Harvest spears when they're 6–10 inches tall, cutting them off about 1 inch below soil surface
• Store at 36°F and 100% relative humidity
• To maintain perennial bed, leave smaller spears to mature into ferns, which will regenerate the plant
• With each successive year, your plant productivity and harvest window will increase