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Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Plant asparagus crowns in early spring, about 3–6 weeks before your last spring frost, as soon as the soil can be worked. Asparagus is a hardy perennial, so a bed planted once can produce for 15 years or more. Expect a light harvest in year two and a full one from year three.
- Frost tolerance
- Hardy perennial
- Soil temperature
- Plant crowns in workable soil
- Days to harvest
- Light harvest year 2, full year 3
The rule we use
- Plant crowns: 3–6 weeks before the last spring frost
Planting crowns
Most gardeners plant one-year-old crowns rather than seed, which saves a year. Dig a trench 6–8 inches deep and about a foot wide. Set crowns 12–18 inches apart on a low ridge of soil in the trench, spreading the roots out like a spider.
Cover them with 2 inches of soil. As the spears grow, keep filling the trench a little at a time until it's level with the ground by midsummer.
Pick the site carefully
An asparagus bed stays put for many years, so choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil, out of the way of yearly digging. Clear perennial weeds like grass and bindweed first; they're very hard to remove once the asparagus is in.
All-male varieties make more spears, because they don't spend energy on seed, and they don't seed weedy seedlings into the bed.
Waiting pays off
Don't harvest in the first year. Let the ferny tops grow so the roots build up strength. In year two, pick spears for about 2 weeks. From year three, harvest for 6–8 weeks, then stop and let the ferns grow for the rest of the season.
Cut or snap spears when they're 6–8 inches tall, before the tips open. Late frost can blacken spears that are up; just cut and discard them, and new ones will follow.
Seeds and supplies for asparagus
- Asparagus seeds at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- A trenching spade for digging the planting trench.
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Questions about planting asparagus
When do you plant asparagus crowns?
In early spring, about 3–6 weeks before your last frost, as soon as the ground can be worked. Enter your ZIP above for dates.
How long until I can harvest asparagus?
A light 2-week harvest in the second year after planting crowns, and a full 6–8 week harvest from the third year.
Does frost hurt asparagus?
Frost can kill spears that are already up, but the crowns underground are fine. New spears will follow.
Sources
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland (2026), University of Maryland Extension
- Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting; Vegetables for Summer Planting, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners
- Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah, Utah State University Extension
- Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs, NC State Extension
- Soil temperature conditions for vegetable seed germination, Oregon State University Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)