How to Grow Asparagus Pt. 1: Planting, Varieties, & Bed Prep

[@epicgardening]

For this bed, we combined two Birdies 8-in-1 Beds using a few bracing kits, which we have on the store: bit.ly/3FEViB4

[@glensager4840]

So would that be roughly 8' long by 4' wide? This video has been super helpful for a first time asparagus planter!!

[@mikalwentz5438]

I have my great Aunts asparagus plants that her mother planted. She just passed away last year at 98 so I have to imagine my plants are over 100 years old. Going strong!

[@bradymcphail9690]

WOW, talk about a legacy! Have you been able to get seeds or share with other family members?

[@Ottawajames]

@@bradymcphail9690 Asparagus by seed is a years long investment....best way to propagate Asparagus is to dig up a tuber nodule. In order to get seed from asparagus, you have to let the shoots grow to full maturity (which end up like a bushy looking shrub, if you can imagine that) and let it flower and bear it's seeds. The seeds themselves once planted would probably take 5 or 6 years to get established enough to start producing enough shoots to be a viable crop.

[@bradymcphail9690]

@@Ottawajames That sounds very interesting & I look forward to getting to the point when I can. I purchased crowns and started from seed many different varieties since I plan on being around for at least 20 more years in our Dream Home I can learn from both, and maybe I’ll understand before the end of my days!

[@evanchristensen609]

@@Ottawajames Tuber nodule? Usually it is propagated from crown divisions if I'm not mistaken

[@SnailHatan]

@@evanchristensen609 I think they may be confusing the fern for the food. Asparagus fern is often propagated by the tubers, whereas edible asparagus doesn’t even have tubers I think

[@jordellaskincare6843]

Thank you for talking in SEASONS rather than months, living in sub tropics in Australia, it's way easier to learn when to plant when watching an American video.

[@epicgardening]

You bet!

[@johncaswell2648]

Our asparagus just finally started producing this year, we got maybe 3 dozen spears from it, which was scary because we had to transplant it to a new location and we were a little late so worried it wouldn't take. We got the whole bed moved in two big rubbermaid tubs without disturbing the roots too much and it seems like they're doing well in their new location. We're letting it fern out for the rest of the season to build back up, but at least we don't have to start over.

[@epicgardening]

That's so exciting!

[@CoffeeCakeCrumble]

I tried growing some asparagus several years ago, ended up with a few females setting berries. Years on I'm STILL finding random asparagus plants on my property. They spread like weeds! When I find one tucked in somewhere I gank it with a shovel and add to the patch I have now. Upside is I save a lot of $$$ with the freebies👍👍👍👍

[@epicgardening]

Hahaha they truly are weeds once they get settled!

[@jimriley9697]

Wow, that is going to be a lot of asparagus! I tip from my personal experience. If you are putting them into a bed with other crops, choose the North side because the get so tall and shade things out. Also I dug up a 5 year old group of them and transplanted to a different location. They didn't seem to mind at all. I still got a harvest and they grew like nothing happened.

[@epicgardening]

Great idea!

[@vegemitegirl1971]

I'm in rural Australia, with a climate similar to Las Vegas. I've had 8 asparagus plants in for 8 or 9 years now. My asparagus bed is a small patch on the side of the small garden storage shed. I've found asparagus is the only thing to grow in that particular bed, and it's thriving. We can no longer eat store bought asparagus due to being spoilt growing our own.

[@bradymcphail9690]

Hey Kevin, This was perfect timing as I’m just about to plant my asparagus seedlings that I started from seed. I hope you don’t mind me sharing what I learned while I was researching planting my Asparagus crowns earlier this year. Strawberries are phenomenal companion plant to asparagus. If you plant them amongst the asparagus they work very well together for a long time. BTW- All of my garden is a Grow bag garden including Fruit trees and medicinal herbs. Your Book is a sort of bible for me since it was the 1st book and truly best purchase for grow bag gardening. Pretty intelligent!

[@Kimipu]

Do you use the strawberries as a living mulch then? I might have to try that 🤔

[@bradymcphail9690]

@@Kimipu maybe eventually after the strawberries spread, because the asparagus will grow between the roots of the berries. I do use straw until then. This is my 1st time trying this.

[@norinedauria7898]

Thanks for sharing- I was wondering if companion planting was possible. I am in south Florida and want to plant but need to find an appropriate spot

[@breannahorton]

I've got my asparagus and strawberries together and it works great! The asparagus protects the strawberries from birds, the strawberries make ground cover for the asparagus, and their roots are at different depths

[@kimberlyloomis8144]

I feel like all I do at work is binge watch Kevin and Jacques now days. 😂 Thanks for sharing all of your guys’ trial and errors!

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

I found asparagus on sell at tractor supply yesterday. They were only $1.24 per pack. Each pack had 3-4 crowns in it depending on the variety. I bought 11 packs. Hopefully they haven’t sat on the shelf to long to come up. I’m going to plant them sometime in the next couple of days. I made 2 videos and posted them to TikTok and KZbin.

[@madammazon2942]

Hey Kevin, I want to thank you! You inspired me to try gardening and I just started my very first garden 2 weeks ago! Never gardened myself, have almost no exposure from childhood, but your enthusiasm inspires! I bought your book and the square foot garden book, made two raised beds (3'x5'x2') and here I goooo!👏🥳

[@JennTN411]

First year here, too! So exciting, good luck!

[@pandorasgarden3369]

I just planted 15 plus crowns :). Best of all luck

[@martenalvarado7147]

I built a 1ft raised bed over my crowns thinking that a gopher killed them, but they're popping up like nothing. I think I've also accidentally cut into them when putting in transplants. Asparagus is super resilient!

[@linannebice6280]

9 yrs into my raised bed asparagus bed..I quit weeding..I harvest...weed eat the weeds..chop and drop..my plants are stronger and more productive every year....composting in place

[@JennTN411]

Great idea!!

[@savannahrains8187]

Can’t wait for the epic spears! I am thinking about doing an asparagus bed at my first house I just bought :)

[@marksmall7790]

I just planted my first set of crowns, I am excited for the journey and look forward to updates. Asparagus is such an interesting plant.

[@christophervanmeier1648]

I will second your comments. Ours are in ground, While great producers to the extreme, we are working all the time to keep the bed weeded. We live in zone 9b, North Cali. We are eating a LOT of asparagus for four or five months. Gotta love it.............I DO!

[@tylerbradford4384]

Waiting for part 2!! 👏🏼

[@TheMusicbabe101]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS! Been waiting on this video! It’s so perfect! Thank you!!

[@lukaslambs5780]

I’m annoyed because I was sick during the initial harvest window for my asparagus so now I have to wait for new tender shoots, these stalks are massive and thick and fibrous now. Love your video Kevin!

[@iBuffy_]

Why you do this to me? I just finished my warm crops now I'm shopping for asparagus! 😂😂 love your videos!! Big fan!

[@HomeGrowTV]

bro your show has really leveled up and love the new content style

[@benjaminbarr8714]

This is entertaining and educational, this is what public schools should be teaching, not partisan politics or sexuality.

[@Stevenobody]

I live in northern Ohio. Everything looks dead and barren in winter. Love how my asparagus matures and looks late summer. It doubles as an ornamental imo

[@AKJJSIM]

We had 6 mature plants outside in a raised bed, but we planted 50 crowns into a 24Lx4Wx2H bed inside our high tunnel a year ago. They all ferned out terrific and now we are getting a decent harvest the first year. Bonemeal right under the crowns at planting time is a good idea.

[@ivyblack8145]

Can't grow asparagus where I am currently just because of how it's set up, but you best bet when we have our own house and property it's one of the first things I'm planting along with fruit trees.

[@djk5v]

People grow them in containers.

[@ivyblack8145]

@@djk5v oh, I totally could, but with the uncertainty of us making big moves, it's one thing I'd just rather wait to invest in.

[@AlpacaRenee]

Thank you so much for this perfectly timed tutorial! I’m soaking asparagus seeds and have been looking for a reliable source of info. Thanks a million!

[@epicgardening]

Good luck w/ your crop!

[@TheMusicbabe101]

You’re supposed to soak the seeds? 😳

[@seekeroftruth9900]

@@TheMusicbabe101 some seeds yes. Before you plant always look up what your planting to take notes in your gardening journal, or like me, just print it out for future reference jic :)

[@TheMusicbabe101]

@@seekeroftruth9900 🤔 This is actually a great idea. Adding a printable version of seed packets for your binder/journal

[@equisader]

I didn't. I planted 60 seeds a fortnight ago. So far i have 54 seedlings (connover's colossal). So far so good. I did use a heat mat though.

[@insanecomicdude]

Even though it looks cooler, I gotta say I don't care for the multiple camera angles while talking. It makes the video feel more impersonal, and the vibe of "Kevin in the garden telling and showing me how to do something" is a big part of the appeal to me.

[@sandram5664]

Asparagus is a very hardy plant. I once had to dig up several 10-year old plants in the middle of a hot summer and move them (due to a building project) and they did fine. They never skipped a beat in production the following year. The only issue I deal with, and it isn’t terrible, is the asparagus beetle. I usually hand-pick them off but I’m thinking of trying beneficial nematodes on them this year.

[@JennTN411]

Please check in later for an update!

[@BeardedTechGuy]

How convenient, I ordered some asparagus crowns last week! lol

[@1Lightdancer]

I've just begun new gardens at my daughter's, and while we have a large back garden area, that's being reworked and I'm not sure where the asparagus bed will go. So 'in the meantime,' I'm gardening in raised beds by my little house, and just planted some asparagus starts from the farmers market in a good sized container (after watching vids on doing so!) and look forward to watching them grow! I may start some more seeds, and get them in this summer as well. I added a strawberry and a lettuce to the bed, and a good mulch.

[@siamstation]

I have a raised bed, dedicated to asparagus. Like you, have planted out small fern leaves. Mine are green asparagus. Blessings from Australia ♥️

[@pennylaur7687]

Just cut a dozen n brought in today, my 3rd yr. Last year I got maybe 10 every few days. I add more plants every year to my patch. Compost in fall. Its in sandy soil. Northern lower Mi. Comes up every year.

[@Dylan-fc6mr]

Rewatching after I impulse bought some asparagus crowns at the store!

[@liisariie.]

There is also white asparagus, it is the most common here in Germany. But you have to peel it. Purple asparagus have I never seen before, really interesting.

[@epicgardening]

You can also bury it to create the white asparagus

[@MarkBednarski]

Was thinking the same, we moved to the US 9 years ago. Before all asparagus I had was white, you don't get that in the US, so thought of planting it myself. Not sure if this is a different variety though. I'll look....

[@christophervanmeier1648]

A bit of an add on...We have had pretty good luck with buying the crowns to start, and more immediate eating. I m not sure the costs are offset by the abilty to eat earier.

[@SheenaHall16]

Getting caught up on my gardening KZbin videos and I’m so happy you did an asparagus video! I’m creating my first asparagus bed this weekend, thank you for the helpful info!

[@Dreamzz101]

so Glad you did this video because a few weeks ago I bought asparagus crowns and have not planted them yet .. ty

[@mrsdeh2]

Wow! Thanks for this video! I planted some asparagus crowns in March and they finally shot up. Super excited to watch them grow. I used a 10 gallon cloth grow bag for each one.

[@barbll000]

My aunt has been growing asparagus in her side lawn for dozens of years. The spears can be cut with a knife and the grass cut after. With regular grass cutting they don’t have the fern growth at all. I would think the grass would also provide the shade and protection that you mentioned.

[@121homestead9]

Intercrop with strawberries…..amazing companion planting

[@epicgardening]

Will research!

[@ptypablo]

I planted a whole asparagus bed 8'x4' in 2020, finally got taste it this year. We had to rip some of them out last year because they were females but there's still plenty to harvest from. I've had it roasted, sautéed and pickled... Next up it has to be bacon wrapped.

[@coleworld4385]

I’m a beginner, so this is beyond my scope of abilities, but I feel like I found a new channel to binge. Ever since Jenna Marbles did her plant tour a few years ago, I’ve been obsessed… PS: would you happen to have any vids for beginners? 😬

[@epicgardening]

We have some and making many more!

[@coleworld4385]

@@epicgardening yay! Going to scroll through right now and see what I can find to get me started!! 🤗🤗🤗

[@Josef_R]

Why do you think it's beyond your abilities? It's actually EASIER because once you plant them, you're done. The only maintenance you have to do is picking them (spring) and chopping them down once a year (fall).

[@oldchild527]

Asparagus has a lot of umami like tomatoes a great crop I will try this year!

[@epicgardening]

Agreed!

[@LandOfJuncoville]

This is the video I’ve been looking for! 🙏🏼 Thank you! I grew ours from seed and transplanted some out. They seemed to have disappeared. This was about 1-1/2 months ago around end of February or beginning of March? I think they are coming up again! I have so many more transplants and want to make sure I do it right. Thanks for the great video!

[@bigstarsfarm91]

There are 100 year asparagus plants in the deserts around big bend at an old homesite- they are so long lived!

[@iamkellyah]

THis is the video I've been waiting for!

[@almagjim]

Where you reading my mind? Lol I’ve been looking at videos about growing asparagus 😍

[@epicgardening]

Perfect!

[@bradmaas6875]

It was one of my early plantings. We eat about half, letting the rest go to fern. I quite literally do nothing to it. 8 or 10 years now

[@karenmason1731]

Good info. I had no idea you could plant from seeds or seedlings. Wish I had planted mine in a raised bed but I’ve been harvesting it for several years now (Zone 7) and it sure is delicious! Love the channel. ❤️

[@epicgardening]

Glad you love!

[@EVERBEE_GARDENING]

This is a little spooky - I just came back in from planting purple and green asparagus. I noticed Epic Gardening had a new video, lo and behold it's about asparagus!

[@epicgardening]

;)

[@stevenlehmann4432]

Been looking forward to this video

[@GardenHappy]

Oh wow I just learned something new! Had no idea they lived so long and had male/female plants! Great video once again. tHANK YOU!

[@Davidmaxwell07]

I live in Stockton where we have the “Asparagus Festival” I wanted to grow it but when I can find it when I’m season for $1 a pound.

[@lepotagerdefortcarodrey5250]

Great video Kevin! Looking forward to Part 2!

[@irmai8669]

Hi there…Native San Diegan here…thank you for all your informational videos. They are awesome. I am in the process of purchasing some birdies planters from you but wanted to know, what is the size of the one you are planting those asparagus in? Thank you!

[@connorvanleeuwen205]

Great video epic team, just wanted to say by the looks of that bed you will have enough asparagus to feed the whole crew.

[@epicgardening]

That's the plan!

[@djk5v]

So timely! Just got crowns and am about to plant.

[@MSLAMICKA86]

Zone 10B in the house!

[@latvian_homestead]

Mine are growing since I was baby (about 25 years) - it just lives, no special care. This year was first when I even tried asparagus (first store bought - didn’t like it and second home grow - pretty upset I skipped on asparagus seeds this year - taste was perfect) we grow just for ferns in landscape and before this year - never tried to eat spears

[@epicgardening]

That's amazing!!

[@ErinP79]

What an amazing garden bed! The yard looks incredible, great job!! 👏🏼

[@carolann1906]

I have crowns ready to plant. 😊

[@discountcodes]

Great video!! Love it!💙💓

[@jo-annjewett198]

Kow, rock dust and perlite. Maybe some organic phosphorus too.

[@misslussier]

Do you guys have a compost system going? I’d be curious to see your set-up!

[@X360DevNerd]

Been wanting a video like this, thank you so much!

[@mrsb3172]

Thanks for this video. Do you have a video or any tips on growing asparagus in containers? Its looking like a few years before ill have a home of my own so any planting i do needs to be either short lived or if itll last a long time, in Pots so we can transplant later. Right now we have mulberry, chillies (the Chilli plants i have are about two years old now) avocado, potato, pumpkin, Lavender and a few ornamental things. Its coming into "winter" (if we can even call it that lol) so im preparing a lot for spring. :)

[@sekb1975]

This is great! is there a Pt. 2? Since it takes 2-3 years before harvest should you cut back those stalks at all? you've mentioned in other videos to prune back so the plant can focus on the stalk before any harvesting. is this one of those?

[@Saber9933]

I just started going down this rabbit hole and when I learned about perennials (from another youtuber), asparagus was definitely THE most enticing one- the holdoff being how long it takes to see productive yields. If this gardening bug sticks, next year will be when I start plotting out where in the yard the asparagus will go and I'm sure you'll have much more thorough videos on it by then! Edit: I'm still deep diving YOUR channel, so you may have done something like this already but- As a NEW entrant into this space, I am unwilling to forfeit my entire yard to planters and have only given space for an 8'x2' raised bed and a shelf for kitchen herbs (and maybe some microgreens!) What kind of stuff would you throw in a SINGLE bed like this that would see the MOST benefit? I'm very enticed by the cut and come again video and of course, tomatoes. (If this is stuff in your book, just say that too- I plan to be picking it up soon with the square foot gardening method book!)

[@xavierprotocols]

May I suggest 2 other great KZbin Gardening channels... Self Sufficient Me GrowVeg

[@JennTN411]

James Prigioni has a channel as well, I volley between Kevin and James' channel several times a week! Very, very beneficial info for us newbies!

[@christinashurina1008]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊Thank you very much for the information. 😊😊😊😊😊

[@barefootbutterfly321]

I need help understanding bt vs spinocide, also there is absolutely no videos on malathion (I understand that is not organic). Can you please make a video on the benefits and harms of the current pesticides on the market? Thanks so much! I truly come to you and your partners for the absolute best gardening advice 🥰🥰

[@barefootbutterfly321]

*no really informative videos...there are a few about malathion.

[@kasperghost6343]

You should also mention how the berries are toxic. Just good info for people who have kids that love to pick and eat

[@ashleemarie8779]

Thank you for this! I want to grow asparagus but have a lot of kids around!! I wouldn’t have known

[@ValerieFire]

Did you a different kind of color correction for this video? It looks really good

[@iephoang3970]

Hi Kevin, how to take care and prepare them for frozen winter? And with small asparagus which you planted?

[@burningfreeman1]

epic gardening why don't you have chickens ? They are a amazing match with a good size garden. There good weeders and fertilizers. Especially if you wanne do more natural settings for example with patatoes you can do a low crop on top of them to protect the ground and when time to harvest you let the chickens run the field first to eat all the top crops. And fertilize the ground. Then harvest your potatoes. You can also use the chickens after harvest of other crops to clean up and fertilize the ground before seeding your next round of crops

[@VGV0]

Chicken feed is expensive. They need grains and carbohydrates, some protein and fats. Kevin has the veggies but would have to buy feed to compensate for the rest.

[@XLR8DaMUSTANG]

Very helpful video! But, is part 2 coming?

[@MilestoneGarden306]

zone 3 that's me!

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Looks good. I have a small garden area but I could figure something out. Great vid. Thanks

[@debihediger4760]

Kevin do you do a Hugo culture in that bed for the asparagus? I know the roots can go a long way for asparagus.

[@JennTN411]

I was wondering what types of beds they could be in, too.

[@sharonspopsandplants359]

Great info I’m in NW FL and I think I might plant some

[@finagill]

After you plant a seedling, how thick of mulch can you add? I used wood chips last year but I only went about an inch thick. I know some plants, like potatoes, have no issues growing through 6" of wood chips but am not really sure about asparagus.

[@burningfreeman1]

I have a qeustion. If I have a bare piece of ground and plant patatoes in the ground and leave them couple years unchecked with some other crops would it boost up the overall soil quality? To help make the land greener and more lively for future planting

[@JennTN411]

Great question! I'm here for that as well. Some plants add, some subtract... hard to keep track of it all at once, very overwhelming at times! Lots of research to be had, good luck!🐝🐝🐝

[@burningfreeman1]

@@JennTN411 I am currently living in the netherlands and gonna move to reno Nevada this summer. So for me it's a diffrent world here it's all green there it's all brown lol and I want to create a green natural yard

[@JennTN411]

@@burningfreeman1 Wow!! What a different world, I hope you love the change and are very successful! You'll have to keep us updated😉😉

[@burningfreeman1]

@@JennTN411 I already love it there but yeay I will try to keep this channel updated with my progress once I started hope I can implement the dutch way of gardening

[@ponygirl1073]

OH KEVIN! HELP!!! I bought bareroot asparagus at big box store. Forgot about them, found them & planted 1 in 15 gl. Container like the ones the trees come out of. I didn’t know about burying the whole plant! I planted it like a strawberry so it’s tippy top is above the soil. I have basil, parsley & cilantro growing with it being in the middle. I mulched with straw & they are all growing great so far. Should I do something different? I have 5 more to plant. I’ll be so ever grateful for any & all info. or corrections. 🥰👩‍🌾

[@epicgardening]

Sounds like you're doing well!

[@robrod7120]

The mulch should act as if it were buried deeper, you should be alright!

[@MrEzekiel1982]

This video let’s me know I’m in good company…I can never keep monoecious and dioecious straight either…

[@rlopez18m]

Ohh I needed this so bad! The description on how to plant the crowns on the boxes are so confusing to me 😂

[@epicgardening]

We got you!

[@rlopez18m]

@@epicgardening 🥹 thank you for your response!

[@davidszakacs6888]

Please tell us the best way to combat asparagus beetles.

[@yancamille8811]

What are the best sites in your opinion to buy seeds from? I would like to know

[@Kilo416]

Great video! Will there be a part 2?

[@annking1576]

How do you build an outdoor fire to ensure that would be able to do pressure canning if the grid goes down?

[@vanessacallmev2524]

I grew purple from seed. 2 years later its producing well. I really need to move them though and need to know if they can be moved while young.

[@terrivance8750]

Kevin, Thank you so much for this video--I've been wanting to give asparagus a try for years. I have one question. When the spears shoot up, do they keep near the parent plant or can the spears travel a good distance?

[@melaniedrenth2562]

Hi Kevin, You grow them as green or purple ones, do you have any tips on growing the white ones? Where I live we love white asparagus. Never even tried the green ones, should do that sometimes. Love your channel ❤️

[@evanchristensen609]

From what I have seen you can either exclude light by using black plastic or fabric or just mounding up the soil 6 to 8 inches and digging down to harvest the etiolated spears

[@everythingeverything229]

Great video, The only critique I have which is nitpicky on my part. Is that you should’ve switched the word monoecious out with dioecious. If asparagus can have male and female separate plants. Monoecious if the male and female reproduction organs existed in the same plant.

[@Crystal_Blue_Persuasion]

I've found that my male asparagus grows tightly around a clump of chives. Those spears are huge. The female plants have spread out randomly.

[@Spinning_laine]

I love this so much info but I had a question. You watered on the plants in the sun. Is it because the leaves don’t have much service matter that you can do this?

[@epicgardening]

Yeah, doesn't matter much at all in this situation + breeze

[@sparrowflight9013]

Zone 6 As an experiment I planted some crowns last year in different parts of the property. They grew best for me when planted on a gentle incline in about 7 hours of direct afternoon sun. Is it normal that they fall over?

[@sandram5664]

@Sparrow Flight, my plants are about 20 years old and they do flop. When they are young and the spears/ferns are thin in diameter they will do this. Once the crowns mature and the stalks get thicker in diameter and in number they stand up better, but a good windstorm can still knock them over.

[@sparrowflight9013]

@@sandram5664 thanks!!!

[@yo_who]

What's the big purple tree that's behind you? Peeking above the house

[@epicgardening]

Jacaranda!

[@iaayj9114]

Trying to plant asparagus for the first time from seed. Now one year in, what do I do now?

[@joedurkin8953]

Hi Kevin. If i grow sweet peas as a cover crop can i harvest or should I just turn them under?

[@121homestead9]

Will you also grow Cardoon?

[@epicgardening]

Not right now - enjoying artichokes too much