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When to plant asparagus
Plant asparagus 1–4 weeks before the last spring frost. Wait until the soil is at least 50°F. That works out to zone 5b (early April to late April), zone 7a (mid March to early April) and zone 9a (early February to late February).
Asparagus planting dates by zone
| Zone | Plant outdoors |
|---|---|
| 4a | Apr 17 – May 8 |
| 4b | Apr 15 – May 6 |
| 5a | Apr 13 – May 4 |
| 5b | Apr 7 – Apr 28 |
| 6a | Apr 2 – Apr 23 |
| 6b | Mar 27 – Apr 17 |
| 7a | Mar 18 – Apr 8 |
| 7b | Mar 9 – Mar 30 |
| 8a | Feb 27 – Mar 20 |
| 8b | Feb 16 – Mar 9 |
| 9a | Feb 2 – Feb 23 |
| 9b | Jan 7 – Jan 28 |
How to plant asparagus
| Plant as | crowns |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 50°F or warmer |
| Depth | Crowns 6–8 in deep in a trench |
| Spacing | 12–18 in |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to harvest | 2–3 years |
| Hardiness | Perennial in zones 3–8 |
Asparagus is a perennial that can produce for 15–20 years, so prepare the bed well.
Fill the trench gradually as the shoots grow.
Let the ferns grow all summer to feed next year's crowns.
When to harvest asparagus
Wait until the second or third spring, then cut spears at 6–8 inches for 2–8 weeks; stop when spears get thin.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.
More vegetables to plant
Tomatoes · Bell peppers · Potatoes · Pumpkins · Cucumbers · Okra · Zucchini · Watermelon