Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that grows back year after year from the same root system. The edible part is the young shoot, known as a spear, which emerges in spring. The mature plant completes a full reproductive cycle, meaning asparagus does have seeds. These seeds are produced as part of its natural life cycle, though they are rarely seen in culinary settings.
The Direct Answer: Yes, But Not Always Visible
The average consumer rarely sees asparagus seeds because the spears are harvested long before the plant reaches its reproductive stage. Asparagus plants are typically cut repeatedly for several weeks each spring, which prevents the spears from growing into the mature, fern-like foliage. If a spear is allowed to grow unchecked, it will eventually produce a tall, feathery stalk, which is the necessary structure for seed production.
A newly planted asparagus bed takes several years to mature enough for harvest, and even longer to consistently produce seeds. The small, hard seeds are black or dark brown and are enclosed within a distinctive fruit. Since the goal of most growers is to harvest the spears, the plant’s reproductive efforts are often intentionally curtailed. This focus explains why the seeds remain largely unknown to the general public.
The Source of Asparagus Seeds
Asparagus plants are dioecious, a biological term meaning they have separate male and female plants. Only the female plants produce seeds, which they do after flowering in the summer. These flowers are small and inconspicuous, but they lead to the development of a small, round fruit.
This fruit is a berry that starts green and ripens to a bright, cherry-red color in late summer or fall. Each pea-sized berry typically contains three to six small seeds. Producing these fruits expends significant energy, which can slightly reduce the energy available for root development and spear production the following spring. These bright red asparagus berries are considered mildly toxic and should not be consumed by humans or pets.
Why Gardeners Use Crowns Instead of Seeds
While asparagus seeds are viable for propagation, most gardeners and commercial growers choose to plant one-year-old root systems called crowns. Growing from seed is a significantly slower process, requiring growers to wait three to four years before they can begin a full harvest. This delay is necessary to allow the plant to establish the substantial root system required for decades of production.
Crowns, which are already a year old, reduce the waiting time by one to two years, often allowing for a light harvest in the second year. Starting from seed results in a roughly 50/50 mix of male and female plants. Female plants put energy into seed production, which can also lead to unwanted seedlings, or “volunteers,” crowding the bed and decreasing the overall yield.
Many growers prefer modern hybrid varieties that produce all-male plants, such as ‘Jersey Giant’ or ‘Jersey Knight.’ These male-only varieties are propagated using specific breeding techniques resulting in all-male crowns. They are more productive because they dedicate all energy to growing thicker, more numerous spears instead of producing berries and seeds. The use of crowns prioritizes speed, efficiency, and higher long-term yields.