Asparagus is the King of Spring

Asparagus is one of the first plants that greets us in springtime! It’s a perennial, which means that once it gets established, the tender spears will return year after year. In addition, its ferny foliage makes an excellent ornamental. 

Is there a more delicious return on investment than growing asparagus? We don’t think so! After getting established, asparagus can share its healthy bounty for up to 20 years. It’s one of our favorites to plant in a central Texas garden.

How long does it take to grow?

Newly-planted asparagus plants may take 2 to 3 years to truly get started and produce, so patience is needed! After they’re established, however, asparagus can be productive for decades.

In addition, asparagus plants are fairly fast producers, sending up new spears every few days for a few weeks in the spring. The plant produces ½ pound of spears per foot of row in spring and early summer, so we think it’s definitely worth the wait.

Planting Tips

• Plant asparagus crowns in the early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Many gardeners plant at about the same time as potatoes go in the ground. 
• Asparagus is usually grown from 1-year-old plants called “crowns,” but it can also be grown from seed. Starting with asparagus crowns, however, eliminates the year of tedious weeding that comes with starting from seed, and will speed up production overall.

Do you have a favorite asparagus recipe? Let us know…  #favoritetimeofyear #asparagus #asparagusrecipes #LakewayGardenClub