How to Grow Asparagus Canada | Planting & Establishment

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

A single asparagus spear pushing up through bare soil in spring, its tightly bracted tip just emerging. Photo: Vmenkov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

8 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Ready in: 400–600 days
Site: 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–6.7
Biggest risk: Fusarium crown and root rot

In the UK, asparagus are ready to harvest 400–600 days after planting.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) — perennial.

Unlike an annual crop, the work here is front-loaded into establishment: get the planting and the site right and the same plants crop for several seasons.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

Soil & Growing Conditions

An established asparagus bed on a UK allotment, spears and ferning foliage growing in a raised, well-drained row — "Asparagus bed, allotment, Warwick" by Robin Stott is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Asparagus bed, allotment, Warwick” by Robin Stott is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: RHS: "Water new asparagus plants regularly throughout their first summer. Once established, asparagus is drought tolerant, so only needs to be watered in long dry spells". Clemson: "Water sufficiently to moisten the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches".

Soil pH range

6 6.7

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Planting the crown	0	Plant crowns with the bud tips visible at the soil surface, spaced 30-45cm apart in rows 45cm apart, staggering plants between adjacent rows. RHS.
Establishment (no harvest)	3	Resist cutting any spears for the first two years after planting (three years if grown from seed) -- the ferny top growth the plant makes instead is what builds the crown's reserves for future cropping. RHS.
Cropping season	5	From the third year, harvest spears for about six weeks from mid-April, extending to eight weeks in subsequent years. Cut individual spears when no more than 18cm tall or about finger thickness, every two to three days in warm weather -- they grow quickly and coarsen fast once past that size. An established plant yields around 10 spears a season. RHS.
Fern growth & cutback	9	Once cropping stops for the season, leave the shoots to grow into tall ferny stems through the rest of summer -- this is what feeds next year's crown. Cut the ferns down to the ground in autumn; they re-sprout in spring. RHS.

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil pH	6 - 6.7
Sunlight	6-6 hours direct sun
Optimal growing temp	15-30C
Minimum survivable temp	-5C
Time to harvest	400-600 days
Soil texture	RHS: "Most soil types are suitable, as long as they're well drained"; on heavy soil "make a raised bed to provide better drainage".
Drainage	RHS: well drained; "A planting site in full sun is preferable, but asparagus will also tolerate dappled shade". Clemson: "full sun".
Lifecycle	perennial
Edible parts	spears

At a Glance

Harvest & Storage

A tied bundle of freshly cut green asparagus spears, the size and straightness to aim for at harvest — "Asparagus-Bundle" by Evan-Amos is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Asparagus-Bundle” by Evan-Amos is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: Asparagus is a long-lived perennial, so readiness is measured in years and spear size rather than days from sowing. RHS: cut spears at no more than 18cm (7in) tall or about finger thickness; do not harvest for two years after planting crowns (three if grown from seed), then cut for six weeks from mid-April in year three and for eight weeks in subsequent years. Clemson: spears 6-8 inches are the best size for harvest and should be cut or snapped off at the soil surface before the tips begin to separate, after two to three full growing seasons before limited harvesting can begin.

Storage

Neither source states a storage method. The two sources disagree sharply on bed lifespan: RHS says an asparagus bed will "crop for about 20 years", while Clemson says it stays "highly productive for seven to eight years before gradually declining". Both figures are recorded rather than reconciled.

Diseases

Fusarium crown and root rot

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi / F. proliferatum / F. verticillioides

Violet root rot

Helicobasidium purpureum

Pests

Slugs

Gastropoda (slugs, various spp.)

RHS asparagus guide lists slugs and snails among asparagus pests.

Snails

Gastropoda (snails, various spp.)

RHS asparagus guide lists slugs and snails among asparagus pests.

Asparagus beetle

Crioceris asparagi

RHS: asparagus beetle affects vegetable asparagus (not ornamental Asparagus species). The RHS asparagus guide also names asparagus beetle among its pests.

Asparagus Through the Season

A dormant asparagus crown showing the central bud cluster and long spidery roots ready for planting — "Asparagus crown" by Roglovsky is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Asparagus crown” by Roglovsky is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Start from a crown

Most gardeners plant one-year-old crowns rather than sowing seed -- the spidery roots go into a trench in spring and give a two-year head start to the first real harvest.

Green asparagus spears emerging in cultivated rows on a UK farm near Kidderminster — "Asparagus growing in field – close-up, near Kidderminster" by P L Chadwick is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Asparagus growing in field – close-up, near Kidderminster” by P L Chadwick is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Spears in cultivated rows

In an established bed, spears push up through the soil in spring along the crown row -- this is the stage to start cutting from the third year onward.

A single freshly cut asparagus spear held in the hand at harvest — "Asparagus - Harvest of One" by marcovitz is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Source: Flickr — “Asparagus - Harvest of One” by marcovitz is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Source: Flickr.

Cutting a spear

Cut spears at 15–20cm while the tips are still tight, slicing just below soil level -- harvest every day or two through the six-to-eight-week cutting window.

Bunches of green asparagus spears tied and displayed at a market — "Bunches of Green Asparagus at Lavaur Market" by fakelvis is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Flickr — “Bunches of Green Asparagus at Lavaur Market” by fakelvis is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Flickr.

Grading and bunching

Fresh spears are graded by thickness and tied into bunches -- the thick, straight, tight-tipped spears keep best and are what you are aiming to grow.

Tall feathery asparagus fern foliage in summer after the cutting season — "Asparagus officinalis sl7" by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Asparagus officinalis sl7” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Ferns after the cutting season

Stop cutting by midsummer and let the remaining spears grow into tall, feathery ferns -- this foliage feeds the crown and builds next year's crop, so leave it until it yellows in autumn.

Small greenish-white bell-shaped asparagus flowers on ferny foliage — "Asperge bloem Asparagus officinalis" by Rasbak is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Asperge bloem Asparagus officinalis” by Rasbak is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Small bell flowers

Asparagus is dioecious -- separate male and female plants. The tiny greenish-white bell flowers appear on the ferns in summer; male plants tend to crop a little more heavily.

Bright red ripe berries on female asparagus foliage in autumn — "Asparagus officinalis, fruit" by Schnobby is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Asparagus officinalis, fruit” by Schnobby is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Red berries on female plants

Only female plants set the small red berries that follow flowering. They self-seed readily, so many growers prefer all-male F1 varieties for tidier, higher-yielding beds.

A common asparagus beetle with cream spots on a dark blue body resting on asparagus foliage — "Common Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi)" by Ryan Hodnett is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons — “Common Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi)” by Ryan Hodnett is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Watch for asparagus beetle

The common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) chews spears and ferns from late spring. Pick beetles and larvae off by hand and clear old fern debris in autumn to break the cycle.

References

Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center - Asparagus

country=USA
FAO EcoCrop - Asparagus officinalis crop view

country=INTL
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Asparagus officinalis L.

country=International
Met Office - Why frost can still occur in late Spring | Met Office

country=UK
Royal Horticultural Society - Asparagus beetle

country=UK
Royal Horticultural Society - How to grow Asparagus | RHS Guide

country=UK
UC Statewide IPM Program - Fusarium Crown And Root Rot / Asparagus / UC IPM

country=USA
University of Maryland Extension - Growing Asparagus in a Home Garden

country=USA

8 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do asparagus take to grow?

Typically 400–600 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

What soil pH do asparagus need?

A pH of about 6–6.7. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect asparagus?

Our data links 2 diseases and 3 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Short-season growing is arithmetic before it is technique: days to maturity against frost-free days decides what will finish at all. The Canada Garden Planner does that subtraction for your region before you sow.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

Canadian vegetable growing guides · Checked against provincial agriculture & university extension guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real Canadian growing conditions, and checked against provincial agriculture and Canadian university extension guidance, and against frost-date and growing-season data, before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides Canada

Last verified 2026-08-06

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How to Grow Asparagus Canada | Planting & Establishment

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

Soil & Growing Conditions

Growth Stages

Quick Facts

At a Glance

Harvest & Storage

Diseases

Pests

Asparagus Through the Season

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Where To Go From Here

Plan the next step

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How to Grow Asparagus Canada | Planting & Establishment

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

Soil & Growing Conditions

Growth Stages

Quick Facts

At a Glance

Harvest & Storage

Diseases

Pests

Asparagus Through the Season

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Where To Go From Here

Plan your veg garden before you dig a single inch

Plan the next step