How To Grow Asparagus From Seed

Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that grows from seed, and it can be grown in containers or directly in the ground.

It’s easy to grow asparagus from seed because you don’t need to buy any special equipment or seeds. You just need to know how to plant your seeds correctly and when to expect them to sprout.

If you are new to growing asparagus from seed, then this article will teach you everything you need to know about planting seeds for asparagus.

Growing Asparagus From Seeds: What You Need To Know

Before you start growing asparagus from seeds, make sure you have all of these items on hand.

1. A good quality potting mix. This should contain peat moss, perlite, vermiculite or other lightweight material. If you use soil, make sure it has been sterilized by heating it up in an oven at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours.

2. Potting compost. This is a mixture of organic matter such as manure, bark, grass clippings, leaves, etc.

3. Watering container. The container should be large enough so that you can water the plants without having to bend over.

4. Plastic bags. These are useful for keeping the seeds moist while they are germinating.

5. Seed starting medium. This is a mixture which contains nutrients and light-sensitive ingredients that help the seeds begin to grow.

6. Germination paper. This is used to keep track of the days that each seed takes to germinate.

7. Sprinkler. This helps to ensure that the roots of the asparagus get plenty of moisture during their early growth stages.

8. Trowel. This is necessary for transplanting the young seedlings into larger pots.

9. Good lighting. If you live somewhere with cloudy skies, you may need to supplement natural sunlight with artificial lights.

10. Fertilizer. This is another item that you will need to purchase separately. Most fertilizers sold for vegetables contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK).

11. Potting tray. This is needed to hold the newly planted seedlings until they are big enough to move outside.

12. Transplanting tools. These include small trowels, plastic cups, and tweezers.

13. Asparagus stakes. These are wooden sticks that you can use to support the plants once they have grown tall enough to climb.

14. Gloves. These are helpful for handling the delicate seedlings.

When Should I Grow Asparagus?

Asparagus is best grown in springtime. However, you can plant seeds anytime between March and August. In warmer climates, you can even sow seeds in January.

You can either sow the seeds directly into the ground, or you can plant them in containers first.

If you plan to grow asparagus from seed indoors, you should wait until the temperature reaches 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the seedlings emerge, you can continue to raise temperatures gradually until the weather warms up again.

If you decide to start growing asparagus outdoors, you should prepare the bed about three weeks prior to planting time.

You can do this by digging out any weeds and adding fertilizer. Then you should cover the area with mulch.

How To Grow Asparagus

How To Grow Asparagus From Seed

This is a very easy vegetable to grow. All you need is a sunny spot and some good quality soil. If you have a lot of spare room, then you could try growing asparagus Indoors.

The following are some tips for growing asparagus:

1. Start seeds indoors several months before the average outdoor planting season begins.

2. Set the seedlings outside once they’ve reached 10 inches tall.

3. Plant the seeds 1/2-inch deep and 4 inches apart.

4. Cover the seeds with a potting mix.

5. Wait until the temperature reaches 50 °F.

6. Continue raising the temperature slowly until the weather warms back up.

7. When transplanting, make sure that the soil is evenly wet.

8. Feed the plants weekly with liquid fertilizer.

9. When your asparagus has grown to 12 inches, pinch out the bottom half of each stem. This encourages side shoots to develop.

10. Harvest the asparagus after 6 to 8 weeks.

Growing Tips For Asparagus

1. Keep the soil evenly moist.

2. Don’t let the soil dry out completely.

3. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry.

4. Don’t over water. The soil should be damp but not soggy.

5. Apply fertilizer regularly.

6. Use a sprinkler to water the leaves.

7. When the tops of the plants reach six inches, cut off all but four of the stalks.

8. Remove the lower leaves so that the remaining stalks receive more sunlight.

9. After the last harvest, remove the outer layer of the stalk.

10. Store the harvested spears in an open container in the refrigerator.

What Are The Benefits Of Growing Asparagus From Seed?

1. Your garden will look beautiful.

2. You won’t have to spend money buying new plants every year.

3. You will save space because it takes only a few square feet to grow asparagus.

4. You don’t need much room to grow asparagus.

5. You can grow asparagus anywhere.

6. You can easily control how much asparagus you want to eat.

7. You can grow as much as you want without having to worry about pests or disease.

8. You can grow as many varieties as you like.

9. You can grow asparagus in pots if you live in a condo/apartment.

Conclusion 

To conclude, you can grow asparagus from seed. It is easy and requires little effort. All you need to do is start the process early enough so that you can enjoy fresh asparagus all summer long.