Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
5 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant out
- Early March to mid April
- 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 planted out early March to mid April, and are ready to harvest 400–600 days after sowing.
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
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
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Plant out |
|---|---|
| Southern England | early March to mid April |
| Midlands derived | early March to late April |
| Northern England | mid March to early May |
| Scotland | late March to early May |
Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.
Southern England - detail & sources
RHS: plant one-year crowns March-April in a permanent bed; no harvest for first two seasons; stop cutting mid-June. Southern England has the earliest workable soil in spring per Met Office's documented frost gradient, so the full March-April window applies here.
Midlands - detail & sources
DERIVED: interpolated a few days later than southern England and a few days earlier than northern England for crown planting, following RHS's March-April guidance and the Met Office's documented south-to-north spring soil-warming gradient.
Northern England - detail & sources
RHS: plant one-year crowns March-April in a permanent bed. Met Office notes soil warms later further north, so crown planting is pushed later in the window here than in southern England.
Scotland - detail & sources
RHS: plant one-year crowns March-April in a permanent bed. Scotland gets the latest crown-planting window in the UK per Met Office's documented later spring soil-warming further north.
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
What Asparagus Looks Like Through the Season
References
-
Tier 1. Optimal temperature 15-30C; killing temps -5C during rest, -1C during early growth; young shoots harvested 400-600 days from planting, harvest period 30-60 days
-
Tier 1. Full sun requires direct light at least 6 hours/day; prefers 8-10 hours/day
-
Tier 1. Maintain soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5; spears 6-8 inches are best for harvest; bed stays highly productive for seven to eight years before gradually declining
-
Tier 1. GBIF Backbone: Asparagus officinalis L. -- ACCEPTED, family Asparagaceae
-
Tier 1. Most soil types suitable if well drained; full sun preferable but tolerates dappled shade; crop for about 20 years; cut spears no more than 18cm tall; harvest mid-April for six weeks in year three, eight weeks thereafter; plant one-year crowns March-April
5 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
When should I plant asparagus out in the UK?
In southern England, from early March. In northern England and Scotland, wait until mid March. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to plant out only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
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
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
Get the UK Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions
Last verified 2026-07-31
Tools That Help With This Crop
Use these links when the guide moves from reading into sowing, planting, watering, and keeping the crop healthy.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.