Growing Asparagus

Aspargus officianalis : Asparagaceae / the asparagus family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                P P P  

(Best months for growing Asparagus in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Easy to grow. Plant as crowns. Best planted at soil temperatures between 16°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 40 cm apart
  • Harvest in 2-3 years. Plant 'crowns' to harvest earlier .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Parsley, Basil, Nasturtiums, Lettuce
  • Avoid growing close to: Garlic, Onions, and root vegetables

Your comments and tips

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29 Nov 18, Ainsley Armishaw (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Our asparagus is in its third year, grown from crowns, how many stalks should I leave each year to flower and when can you cut off the stalks that have been left
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29 Nov 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
In the spring you pick the spears after they come out of the ground - stop late Oct early Nov. To have a good crop next year you need to leave all spears/ferns to grow. These then provide food for the crown to grow for next year. Stop watering about early May and let the ferns die back. Cut the ferns off in August. As soon as I cut mine the spears start growing.
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27 Mar 18, Kath Gilchrist (New Zealand - temperate climate)
When do you cut off the ferns and how low do you cut them?
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13 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Late winter and at ground level or just below. Then cover them with about 4-6 cm mulch.
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27 Dec 11, Mary (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am a first time grower and am preparing the ground with compost only in a mound.what else should I add? SHEEP MANURE OR CHOOK.DO THEY LIKE LIME?
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15 Apr 12, Trudy Franklin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Asparagus prefers a high ph of 7.0, so my gardening books state, so yes liming likely will be needed. Can you test the ph of your soil? I give mine horse manure and sheep pellets - I have no source for hen poo, but I cannot see any reason why that would not be good for them.
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28 Jul 09, Valerie (New Zealand - temperate climate)
It's only the end of July and my asparagus is already sprouting. Should I pick it or leave it alone? It's in it's third year and I haven't picked any for the last two spring/summers
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13 Aug 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Andrew, you could try Kings Seeds www.kingsseeds.co.nz/ (for seeds) or any good garden shop for asparagus crowns.
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10 Aug 08, Andrew (New Zealand - temperate climate)
how and where do i get a packets of asparagus seed or seedlings
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06 Feb 19, Teia (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Andrew. I bought my first packet of 5 one year old Asparagus crowns from Mitre 10 in Hastings in 2 Sep 2016. I bought another packet of 5 crowns from The Warehouse in Hastings on 25 August 2017. I planted and fed them in accordance with the instructions on the packets and have had my first feed of Asparagus on 21 Sep 2018 (from the 2016 plants). My husband and 2 children then had their first feed on 15 Oct 2018. We harvested our asparagus until 21 Nov 2018 and then let them go to fern. We did not touch the 2017 plants at all but will be able to eat them in spring 2019 until early November and also be able to eat as much as we can from our 2016 plants with continued harvest through to the middle or end of December at least.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 40 comments
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Depends how much water you have put on over the last 2-3 months. The plant goes into dormancy in winter and the ferns die back later autumn/winter. Wait until late August and give it some fertiliser, put 100mm of compost on top and start watering it. It should start sending up spears after that. If not it might be dead. Google about growing asparagus.

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