Despite being heralded for its distinct flavour and medicinal values in Ancient Rome and Egypt, there was little interest in asparagus in Britain until the 16th century. Now, it’s a staple on spring vegetable spreads.

Asparagus Plant Care Top Facts

• Easier to grow than you might think
• Requires generous feeding 
• Suited to well-draining soil in a sunny position
• Will crop for around 20 years
• Requires monitoring for slugs and snails, asparagus beetle and damage from late frosts

Where to grow asparagus plants?

Asparagus plants will crop for about 20 years after planting, so it really is worth preparing the ground in advance of delivery. A well-trained and reasonably fertile soil in an open sunny position is required for an asparagus bed. Dig the patch to a spade’s depth and work in plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure.

Your asparagus plants have been grown in 3-litre pots and once planted will be quick to establish. You can plant them at any time of year, unlike asparagus crowns or seeds. Next spring you’ll be picking your first harvest which will be repeated for many years to come.

How to look after asparagus plants

Aftercare for asparagus plants is easy. Keep the beds free by hand weeding so that you don’t disturb or damage the shallow root system of your asparagus plants.In spring apply a top dressing of general fertiliser.

In the autumn, simply cut down the yellow ferns to within 3cm of the ground. Then add a mulch of garden compost or well-rotted manure to a depth of 5-8cm.

When to harvest asparagus plants?

The first spears will break the surface at the end of April. Wait until they are about 15cm high and then, using a sharp knife or specialist asparagus knife, cut the spears a couple of centimetres below the surface. You should harvest your asparagus as needed every few days, but tradition says that you should stop cutting by the longest day of the year.