8 Asparagus Growing Mistakes to Avoid this Season

by Jennifer Poindexter

Did you know asparagus plants can last up to twenty years? That’s a long time for one plant to continuously produce. It might explain why it takes a little bit of knowledge to grow asparagus well.

This isn’t the vegetable you toss in the ground and hope for the best. You can plant it this way, but you probably won’t get as much from it as you could if you knew more about asparagus. Understanding that this is a complex vegetable to grow may also explain why many gardeners frequently make the same mistakes with this plant.

If you’re interested in some common gardening mistakes when raising asparagus, you’re in the right place. I’ll be walking you through each mistake and sharing the solution. Hopefully this will make your asparagus-growing-experience a positive one. Here’s what you should avoid when growing asparagus in your garden.

1. Skip the Weeding

One of the biggest mistakes you can make, when raising asparagus, is allow weeds to move into your garden beds.

Weeds cause the asparagus to fight for nutrients. Though asparagus is a plant with a long lifeline, it doesn’t hold up well when faced with a hardship.

How to Avoid this Mistake:

You avoid this mistake by ensuring your beds are weeded consistently. When initially planting asparagus, you won’t be able to mulch.

Therefore, your best bet in keeping weeds out of your beds is to weed by hand and lessen the exposure of weeds into the bed. You accomplish this by not allowing grass or weeds to be tossed into the growing space during typical yard work.

2. Plant Asparagus Crowns Shallow

All plants must be planted at an appropriate depth. If you plant seeds too shallow, they’ll rot before they have the opportunity to sprout.

Asparagus crowns are similar. They must be planted at an appropriate depth to ensure they have what they need to form healthy root systems.

How to Avoid this Mistake:

Avoid planting asparagus at the wrong depth by knowing the right depth before you get started. Asparagus should be planted one foot beneath the soil.

If you plant asparagus crowns too shallow, they won’t take root. It could introduce them to the wrong conditions which might encourage rot.

3. Skip Watering and Mulching

There are few plants which don’t need mulch. All plants need water for survival. Water is important for providing necessary moisture and encouraging strong roots.

Mulch is necessary because it helps to keep weeds under control and moisture around the plants. If you skip these two important ingredients, your asparagus could suffer.

How to Avoid this Mistake:

Asparagus plants need approximately two inches of water per week. It can come from you or supplied by nature. It’s wise to keep a rain gauge near your asparagus bed to ensure they aren’t over or underwatered.

You should also apply a layer of mulch as the asparagus plants begin to grow. This will keep the weeds down and retain moisture.

4. Plant Asparagus Crowns Incorrectly

There are many preferences on how you should plant asparagus. Some people dig a hole,a foot beneath the soil, and plant the crowns. In other situations, gardeners dig a trench when planting asparagus. 

This isn’t the only way to plant, but it’s important to understand the trench method to make an informed decision on how you choose to grow an asparagus bed. Many gardeners believe planting in trenches grows stronger asparagus.

How to Avoid this Mistake:

You can plant asparagus, within a trench, by first digging a small ditch that’s one foot deep into the soil. Place the crowns in the trench. Be sure the pointed end is facing up, and the roots are sprawling.

Lightly cover the crowns with soil. The more they grow, the more soil you should add around the plant until the trench is filled in. Again, there are multiple ways to plant asparagus, but if you’re struggling with growing strong plants, this method might be able to help.

5. Plant in the Shade

Asparagus is a perennial plant which will return for many years. It’s low maintenance as well. However, it has specific growing conditions that must be met for your plants to thrive.

Therefore, you can’t plant asparagus in the shade. It may be tempting, if you have a bare spot in your yard, but asparagus needs full sun. Be sure to provide what it needs for a better outcome.

How to Avoid this Mistake:

Avoiding this mistake is simple. Plant asparagus where it will receive six to eight hours of sunlight. It shouldn’t be planted in places where it will receive less than this.

You can grow asparagus in larger containers. Some of these containers can be put on wheels which would make it easier to roll the plants around, as needed, to ensure they receive adequate sunlight. Even if you have a shaded property, there are ways to still provide what asparagus needs.

6. Ignore Pests and Diseases

One of the worst things gardeners can do is plant things and forget to take care of it. No garden will prosper without regular care.

Part of caring for a garden is paying attention to potential threats. Stay alert to any pests and diseases which might harm your asparagus.

How to Avoid this Mistake:

Asparagus has a few threats you should take note of. You must be aware of asparagus beetles, spider mites, slugs, snails, and cutworms. These pests can be treated with insecticides.

However, if you don’t pay attention to your growing space, these threats can take over before you realize it. Check your asparagus plants regularly to ensure they aren’t being mauled by bugs.

7. Harvest the First Year

All good things come to those who wait. That’s a traditional saying that we’ve all heard. Asparagus is no different.

If you’re expecting to plant a perennial crop and harvest the same year, your expectations are a little high. Harvesting asparagus too soon is a dreadful mistake many gardeners make.

How to Avoid this Mistake:

Asparagus shouldn’t be harvested the first year. You should wait until the second year before trying to harvest anything.

The first year, the asparagus is planted, ensures the plants form proper root systems. By harvesting too soon, you disrupt this, and your plants could pay the price.

8. Harvest the Asparagus Wrong

Did you know there’s a right way and a wrong way to harvest asparagus? It’s important you learn how to properly harvest your crop.

It would be a shame to put in all the effort to grow strong plants, supply proper care, and even wait a year before harvesting, to bring harm to your plants during the harvesting process. Ensure you harvest asparagus properly to encourage healthy plants.

How to Avoid this Mistake:

You should harvest asparagus beginning in year two. Start with small harvests and don’t begin until the plant is ten inches tall. Once it has reached this height, you can harvest for a couple of weeks during the peak season. 

As each year goes by, harvest a greater quantity, more frequently, and for longer periods. By year four, you should be able to harvest freely. 

This concludes the mistakes many gardeners make when raising asparagus. It isn’t a difficult crop to grow, but it does require patience.

If you can provide proper care and self-restraint, when growing this crop, things should turn out well for you. Remember to stay alert to potential threats and hopefully you’ll enjoy homegrown asparagus soon.

More About Growing Asparagus

https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-asparagus

https://extension.psu.edu/growing-asparagus-in-the-home-garden

https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/growing_asparagus_at_home