When to plant asparagus?
Plant asparagus from crowns in March, for the RHS, and sow it from February to April. In Campania the crowns go in from late February to early April and the seedlings from April to June, in Sicily the transplant is in spring once frosts have finished, and Umbria writes no month.
When, by region
| North | Centre | South | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowing | Indoors in February, at 13-16 °C (55-61 °F), and the calendar also marks March and April. Outdoors in March or April, 2.5 cm (1 in) deep, in rows 30-45 cm (12-18 in) apart, then thin to 15 cm (6 in). Move the indoor ones in early June. Crowns, as soon as they arrive, in March. The harvest waits 2 years, 3 if grown from seed. | Umbria 2025 has asparagus and does not write a planting month. Replanting waits at least 5 years, and it does not follow potato, lucerne, carrot or beetroot. | In Campania the crowns go in from late February to early April, the seedlings from April to June. In Sicily sowing is in spring or autumn, depending on the area, and the transplant in spring, once frosts have finished. Growth is happy at 16-20 °C in Campania and at 15-25 °C in Sicily. |
| Spacing | 30-45 cm (12-18 in) along the row, rows 45 cm (18 in) apart. The hole is about 30 cm (1 ft) wide and 20 cm (8 in) deep, with a mound of about 10 cm (4 in). In a pot, one crown in at least 30 cm (1 ft) wide and deep. A mulch of 5 cm (2 in). | Umbria does not write a spacing. | In Campania, 30-35 cm along the row and 1.30-1.50 m between rows. In Sicily the seed goes 2-3 cm deep, 20-30 cm along the row, in a trench 15-20 cm deep. A final spacing in centimetres, on the Sicilian sheet, is not written. |
A bed for many years, in the sun, on soil that drains. Do not replant where an asparagus bed has already been.
February at 13-16 °C (55-61 °F), March and April, 2.5 cm (1 in), 30-45 cm (12-18 in), 15 cm (6 in), early June, March for the crowns, the 2 years and the 3 from seed, a hole about 30 by 20 cm (1 ft by 8 in), 10 cm (4 in), 5 cm (2 in), a pot of 30 cm (1 ft), mid-April, the 6 and then the 8 weeks, 18 cm (7 in), about 10 spears and about 20 years are from the RHS. Late February to early April, April to June, 30-35 cm, 1.30-1.50 m, 16-20 °C (61-68 °F) and at least 2 years before a return are from Campania. Spring or autumn, spring once frosts have finished, 2-3 cm, 20-30 cm, 15-20 cm, 15-25 °C (59-77 °F) and the April-May harvest are from Sicily. At least 5 years, and the ban after potato, lucerne, carrot and beetroot, are from Umbria 2025, which writes no month. The months are in the February calendar, March, April, May and June.
March, the crowns
The short route is a crown, a dormant one-year-old root. Order it for March or April and plant it as soon as it arrives, in March. Open a hole about 30 cm (1 ft) wide and 20 cm (8 in) deep, make a mound of about 10 cm (4 in), set the roots on it and cover them leaving the tips showing. Along the row, 30-45 cm (12-18 in). Between rows, 45 cm (18 in). Then a mulch of 5 cm (2 in). In a pot, one crown in at least 30 cm (1 ft) wide and deep: it lasts less, and crops less, than in the ground.
From seed, start indoors in February, at 13-16 °C (55-61 °F), one seed to a cell, and transplant in early June. Outdoors, in March or April, 2.5 cm (1 in) deep, in rows 30-45 cm (12-18 in) apart, thinned to 15 cm (6 in), and after a year replant in March at the final spacing. The calendar marks sowing in February, March and April, and planting in March. The pot is in starting seeds indoors.
Campania and Sicily
In Campania you plant crowns of 1 or 2 years, or seedlings of 60-70 days. Crowns go in from late February to early April. Seedlings from April to June. Going earlier spoils establishment if the weather turns. Going later lengthens transplant shock and shortens the season in which the plant stores reserves. Along the row, 30-35 cm. Between rows, 1.30-1.50 m. The growing temperature is 16-20 °C (61-68 °F), with a maximum of 35 °C (95 °F). The deep cultivation, to 60-70 cm, is done in the summer-autumn before transplanting, or in spring on very light soils. Return to the same ground after at least 2 years. Harvest in the open field is between March and April, and under cover between February and April. Cropping starts in the third year.
In Sicily sowing is in spring or autumn, depending on the area, 2-3 cm deep and 20-30 cm along the row. The transplant, of shoots or of roots 1-2 years old, is in spring, once frosts have finished, in a trench 15-20 cm deep, with the tips in the air. Growth is happy at 15-25 °C (59-77 °F). Harvest, usually, is from April to May, once the shoots are about 15-20 cm tall. Umbria, in 2025, has the sheet and does not write a planting month. Replanting waits at least 5 years. Asparagus does not follow potato, lucerne, carrot or beetroot, because of violet root rot. Globe artichoke, another perennial, is in when to plant artichokes.
Two years without a knife
The RHS asks you not to harvest for the first 2 years, 3 if the plant was grown from seed. In the third year, cut from mid-April for 6 weeks. In later years, for 8 weeks. Cut the spear 2.5 cm (1 in) below the soil, once it is no more than 18 cm (7 in) tall. In warm weather, go through every 2 or 3 days. An established plant gives about 10 spears a season. The bed crops for about 20 years, and you do not remake it where asparagus has already grown: choose fresh ground. In autumn, once the fern yellows, cut it to the ground. In crop rotation asparagus and rhubarb stay in a permanent corner, outside the annual groups.
Through the first summer, water regularly. After that, only in long dry spells. Weed by hand, because the roots are shallow. Divide in late winter or early spring, no more than once every 3 years. In Campania the plant starts again once the temperature near the crown is at least 10 °C (50 °F). Watering is in watering.
In the app
Every plant in the catalogue has its own sowing calendar, and weather alerts for your area help you judge whether to sow now or hold off.
Frequently asked questions
When do the crowns go in, in the north?
In March, as soon as they arrive. The RHS delivers them in March or April. Along the row 30-45 cm, rows 45 cm apart, on a mound of about 10 cm in a hole about 30 by 20 cm. The harvest waits 2 years.
What about seed?
Indoors in February, at 13-16 °C, with a transplant in early June. Outdoors in March or April, 2.5 cm deep. The calendar marks February, March and April. From seed, wait 3 years before cutting.
What dates do Campania, Sicily and Umbria write?
Campania: crowns from late February to early April, seedlings from April to June. Sicily: sowing in spring or autumn, transplant in spring once frosts have finished. Umbria 2025: no planting month. Umbrian replanting waits at least 5 years.
How far apart?
The RHS: 30-45 cm along the row, rows 45 cm apart. In a pot, one crown in at least 30 cm. Campania: 30-35 cm along the row, 1.30-1.50 m between rows. Sicily: seed 20-30 cm along the row, a trench 15-20 cm deep. Umbria does not write a spacing.
When is the first harvest?
For the RHS, from the third year, from mid-April, for 6 weeks, then for 8. In Campania cropping starts in the third year, with an open-field harvest between March and April. In Sicily, usually, from April to May, at about 15-20 cm.