Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that provides one of the first harvests of spring. The preferred method for establishing a long-lived asparagus bed is by planting crowns, which are dormant, one- or two-year-old root systems. Using crowns bypasses the slow and sometimes unreliable germination stage of seeds, offering a significant head start. This approach allows gardeners to begin harvesting the tender spears a full year sooner than if they started from seed.
Identifying Reputable Sources
Finding a trustworthy supplier is the first step in ensuring a healthy asparagus patch that can last for two decades or more. Specialty mail-order nurseries generally offer the widest selection of asparagus varieties and provide guaranteed, disease-free stock. They are the primary source for specific cultivars, such as high-yielding, all-male hybrids like ‘Jersey Giant’ or ‘Millennium’. Pre-ordering is often necessary to secure the most popular varieties before they sell out.
Local garden centers and independent nurseries present an alternative, allowing buyers to physically inspect the crowns before purchase. This hands-on inspection is valuable for assessing the root health and overall condition of the planting material. However, the selection of varieties is typically limited to a few common types, and the stock window may be shorter than at a mail-order specialist.
Purchasing crowns from large farm supply stores or big box retailers offers convenience, but the quality can be highly variable. Crowns sold in these settings are sometimes improperly stored under warm or dry conditions, which can decrease their viability. Gardeners must be particularly careful to check the crowns’ condition before buying them due to the lack of specialized handling.
Timing Your Purchase and Planting
The availability of asparagus crowns is dictated by the plant’s natural dormancy cycle. Crowns are sold as bare-root material, meaning they are lifted from the soil and shipped without potting mix. They are available for purchase only during the late winter and early spring months, before they break dormancy and begin active growth.
Gardeners should plan to plant the crowns as soon as the soil is workable in the spring, usually a few weeks before the last expected frost date. If the crowns arrive before the planting site is ready, temporary storage is necessary to prevent drying out or rotting. Remove the crowns from any plastic packaging, gently loosen them, and keep them in a cool, dark place, such as a refrigerator, until planting. Plant the crowns immediately upon arrival or purchase to ensure the best possible establishment.
Essential Criteria for Selecting Healthy Crowns
A healthy asparagus crown will be firm to the touch, feeling heavy for its size, and should not appear dry, shriveled, or brittle. Avoid any crowns that show signs of mold, rot, or soft spots, which indicate disease or poor storage conditions. The crown must have a robust, fleshy root system that is pliable and not tangled or damaged.
The number of buds, often called “eyes,” on the top of the crown indicates its potential vigor. Look for crowns that possess at least five to nine healthy buds, as these are the points from which new spears will emerge. Choose one- or two-year-old crowns, as they establish quickly and provide a harvest sooner than younger plants.
Selecting an all-male hybrid variety is recommended for most home gardens. These plants dedicate all their energy to spear production, resulting in higher yields and thicker, more uniform spears.