Plant asparagus

Where to plant asparagus?

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that thrives in all climates. It enjoys sunny exposures but can also be planted in partial shade. Its lifespan is very long (over 10 years), but its cultivation requires a lot of space.

Asparagus can be planted in all soils, except those that are too wet; however, it prefers rather sandy soils that warm up quickly in spring. It should be established in a plot enriched with compost, at a rate of 3 kg per m².

Plant asparagus in the sun, in rich, well-draining, sandy soil

When to plant asparagus?

The ideal is to prepare the soil and enrich it in autumn, then plant the asparagus in March-April (as early as February in mild climates). The asparagus crowns should be planted in the garden as soon as possible after receipt: they must not dry out.

How to plant asparagus?

Preliminary Preparation (in Autumn):

• Dig a trench 40 cm wide and 25 cm deep (this depth is reduced to 15 cm for green and purple asparagus, as they are not hilled), if planting in two ranks, space the trenches 1.5 metres apart.
• Set aside the excavated soil on the sides,
• Loosen the bottom of the trench,
• Add well-rotted compost, along with sand to improve drainage in heavy soil, and incorporate them into the soil by raking.

Planting (from February to April):

• In the trench, form small mounds of soil about 10 cm high and as wide, spacing them 50 to 60 cm apart,
• Place the crowns, point upwards and spread the roots over each mound,
• Mark the position of each crown with a stake or the row by stretching a line from the start to the end of it,
• Backfill the trench with the reserved soil to cover the crowns with a layer of 3 cm of soil,
• Proceed with a first watering in a fine spray to avoid displacing the crowns.

The first harvest of asparagus occurs after three years of cultivation during which they will be hilled (for the white ones) and staked as they grow.

Place the asparagus crowns on the ground, on small mounds of soil, then bury them