Asparagus Seeds

Female plants are the only ones to bare asparagus seeds and they take a considerable amount of energy from the plant in order to produce new seedlings. This can really overcrowd your bed if the plants are not given adequate room. The male plants will produce much larger, thicker spears because they are not putting any energy into seeds.

It is always advised to use the very best asparagus seeds or plants that you can find because an asparagus bed of good quality will usually continue to be productive for up to 20 years. Therefore, if you are growing a new bed, choose wisely so that you can be blessed with premium product for many years to come. Conveniently, almost all new varieties are resistant to fusarium, rust and are cold weather tolerant.

Planting

You will want to plant your asparagus seeds in the spring as soon as you can work the ground. They should be sown into a production bed where they can grow undisturbed for one year. Young plants will offer a compact bud at the center, or crown of the plant with many pencil-sized dangling roots. It is up to you whether you use a young plant or asparagus seeds to start your bed. There seems to be more adventure and a feeling of accomplishment using the seeds and although you will have to wait a year to reap the benefits, it does offer a wider variety of seeds to choose from and ensures fresh plants.

If you choose to use a young plant instead of asparagus seeds, they need to be in a trench that is roughly 15 inches wide and at least six inches deep. Crowns will need to be spaced around one foot apart with the roots spread out and the crown in an upright position, elevated a bit higher than the roots. Place about two inches of soil over the crown and then later, as the plant rises, you may need to add more soil.

Otherwise, if you are taking the patient approach and using asparagus seeds, you can start them growing indoors. Spread them between paper towels that are slightly damp and then place this in a sealing plastic bad. After closing the bag, lay it in the refrigerator on the top shelf where it is warmest and they should germinate between 10 and 14 days later. Your sprouted seeds can then be sown in four inch pots on a nice sunny windowsill. You will only need to fertilize once with some type of diluted liquid organic fertilizer and water as needed.

Transplanting Asparagus

Whether you have used crowns or asparagus seeds, transplanting can be a bit tricky. It is easiest if you have a spade fork that you can use to divide and locate the tangled roots. Once they are divided, you can lift the crown gently and very lightly trim the roots. Be sure when transplanting asparagus that your trench is wide and deep enough to accommodate their extensive root system. It is also helpful to add a bit of compost into the trench at the bottom and then mound up a bit on top of the soil.

The asparagus crown will be placed on top of the soil mound, being sure to allow the roots to fall over the sides. Spread the roots out and make sure that plant's pointed part is facing up. Pack down the soil around the plant and water thoroughly. For maximum results, a sandy, well-drained soil with full sun should be chosen.

General Care

Asparagus plants produce massive horizontal roots so they should always have adequate room to grow to decrease your chance of overcrowding. The female plants will produce small red berries after the first year that will fall off the plant onto the ground and become perennial weeds. In the spring you should start frequent, light cultivation for young and mature plants and tend to the weeds so the plants are not competing for nutrients.

It is also recommended that in the fall, prior to freezing weather, the tops of the asparagus plants should be removed to help decrease any chance of rust disease that could attack the foliage over winter.

It is a time consuming process to grow your plants from asparagus seeds but it is most definitely a rewarding one. If you do everything right the first time and you use quality seeds, you will enjoy a plentiful harvest for many years to come.