Green asparagus spears in a row.

Asparagus

Asparagus is a popular perennial vegetable grown in many home gardens, but it requires patience and care to get the most out of your harvest. Read our guides down below for some helpful tips on asparagus-growing so you can enjoy your tasty spring produce! New to growing asparagus? Start here.

How to Plant and Grow Asparagus

A close up horizontal image of a wicker basket filled with a bunch of freshly harvested asparagus spears set on a wooden table outdoors pictured on a soft focus background.

Asparagus intimidates some gardeners. As a perennial, it takes a different skill set than something like zucchini or lettuce. But don’t let it scare you. You can succeed with cultivating those tasty little spears. We’ll help you become an asparagus growing professional with this comprehensive growing guide.

When and How to Cut Back Asparagus Foliage

Image of rows of asparagus plants growing in the garden with trees in soft focus in the background.

Growing asparagus at home is worth some extra effort. One way to increase productivity and improve plant health is to cut back dead foliage in the fall. Before the freezing temperatures of winter take hold, you can prepare your asparagus plants to survive and thrive, ready to grow in spring. Learn more now.

When and How to Transplant Asparagus

A horizontal image of early growth of asparagus spears growing in rows in the garden.

Is your asparagus crowded or underperforming? Wondering if you can move it? This article covers all you need to know about asparagus crowns and transplanting asparagus including selecting the best site, soil preparation, digging and dividing, and the gradual planting method, as well as watering and fertilizing.

What’s the Difference Between Male and Female Asparagus Plants?

Young asparagus spears growing in the garden showing the bright green stalks and slightly darker heads, with a garden scene in soft focus in the background.

Asparagus, the reigning edible perennial of the backyard vegetable garden, has both male and female plants. But how does this affect the way you grow and harvest these delicious spring veggies? Keep reading to learn more about the difference between male and female asparagus plants – and why it matters.

Why Is My Asparagus Thin? Tips for Growing Thick Spears

A horizontal image of young asparagus spears growing in a field in spring.

Wondering why your asparagus plants consistently produce weak, thin spears? A number of factors such as lack of water, nutrient deficiency, and overharvesting can result in skinny spears. Fortunately these problems aren’t too hard to fix. Read on to learn about the causes and solutions for thin asparagus.

Why Is My Asparagus Ferning Out?

A close up horizontal image of asparagus spears that has started to fern out prematurely.

Ferning out is a natural, healthy part of growing asparagus spears that happens each year. But sometimes your asparagus spears will fern out earlier than you would like, disrupting your harvest. That’s why it helps to understand when and how to deal with the problem, and when to just let your plants do their thing.

When and How to Harvest Asparagus

A close up horizontal image of two hands from the left of the frame holding freshly harvested asparagus spears.

Asparagus is one of few truly perennial vegetables. An established patch can produce bountiful harvests of crisp and flavorful green spears each season. By following a few key tips, you are certain to have a healthy asparagus crop that continues for many years. Learn how and when to harvest asparagus in this guide.

How to Identify and Control Common Asparagus Diseases

A close up horizontal image of asparagus spears emerging from the ground pictured in bright sunshine.

Many types of fungi, a water mold, and several viruses can infect asparagus plants, with varying degrees of severity. This guide will help you to diagnose what is ailing your crop and provide tips on what to do about it. Read on to learn about the dizzying array of pathogens that can infect asparagus.

What Is Purple Spot of Asparagus?

A horizontal image of an asparagus field with rows of ferns.

The fungal disease purple spot produces purple lesions on asparagus spears as they emerge from the ground. It spreads from infected asparagus residue that remains in your garden. This disease can be severe in wet weather and shorten the lifespan of your plants. Read on to learn how to manage this disease.

How to Identify and Treat Asparagus Crown and Root Rot

A close up horizontal image of an asparagus plant suffering from crown and root rot growing in the garden pictured in light sunshine.

The organisms that cause crown and root rot can live in the soil for very long periods. There are no good chemical controls for Fusarium, but there are some for Phytophthora. You can minimize the stress to your asparagus to prevent these diseases and make them more likely to survive. Read on to learn these steps.

What Is Asparagus Rust?

A closeup horizontal image of an asparagus plant suffering from rust, a fungal disease, pictured on a soft focus background.

Asparagus rust is a highly complicated fungal disease with four different stages that can invade your plants without showing symptoms until it is too late. Cultivars bred to be resistant to this pathogen often lose effectiveness over time. Read on to learn what symptoms to look for and how to treat your infected plants.