Asparagus from Seed?

[cynthia_h]

Hi, all!

Being on a rather stringent budget these days, I purchased asparagus seed (var. Precoce d'Argenteuil, b/c the Mary Washington was out of stock) rather than roots.

I've found instruction on the Web recommending that I soak these seeds for 48 hours prior to planting them, but then what?

Do they require LOTS of heat? Special planting mix? Should I start the seeds in cell packs/individual little pots, or plant them directly into my Square Foot Garden with its planting mix? (1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss)

I'm not in a hurry to harvest asparagus, but I AM in a hurry to see little green asparagus sproutlings. *This* summer.... (Yeah, kind of like the old petition to the Almighty: "Lord, give me patience--RIGHT NOW!" )

Any experienced asparagus growers out there? What worked/didn't work?

Thank you!

Cynthia H.
El Cerrito, CA
USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 17

[Cuke]

The only thing I know about asparagus is that their roots will eventually branch as they get older and take up space.I tried growing it from seed before,but no luck.It also takes a year for them to get established before you get a harvest.

[opabinia51]

I wouldn't get to excited, I've planted asparagus from seed before and it's not difficult, keep them inside and use a grow light. Just put them in potting soil with some manure. They'll be fine. Soaking them is a good idea.

You can also buy the roots and just throw them into the soil and in two years you'll be harvesting your first asparagus. With seeds, it'll take a bit longer. I used both methods.

[Buckshot]

Asparagus from seed, the one thing you need to know is Asparagus is a 20yr crop so you need to consider very carefully where you put it. It does not like its roots to be wet so it needs soil that drains well. It needs full sun. If you start from seed or crowns the planting is the same. Dig a trench 2ft deep and 2ft wide. Place 6in sand in bottom and sprinkle Ag Lime in with it, cover it with 3in amended soil, sand, old compost, topsoil mix for drainage. Place seed every 12in and add 3in more soil mix. Water well until shoots begin to grow. When shoots are 6in tall add 5in mixed soil and allow shoots to grow into Ferns. If ferns are week support them and allow to grow all summer, do not over water. If there is a chance of freezing place one foot of loose straw over the trench. The next year the new shoots will come up do not pick they will need all the energy (sugar) for the next years crop. when the shoots are tall enough fill in the trench with the amended soil. I know it will be hard not to pick but if you do you could kill the crown and then all the work for nothing. The 3rd year is when you can pick the shoots but only until they start to get thinner, when they become about like a pencil quit picking and allow the ferns to grow and replace the sugar for the next year’s crop.

[tncgroup]

I did 50 plants this year from seed, Milennium and Jersey, planted on 3/6. They all emerged a week later. They looked great, kept them under flourescents until May 15th and then moved them outdoors into SFG (Mel's Mix). It was a hard transplant as I had difficulty getting them out of the cell packs; next time - if there is a next time - I will use individual peat pots. The plants were doing fair until a week or two ago when I side dressed with a liitle PlantTone. We had heavy rain and in a day or two the plants are looking like champions. By the way, I do 4 to a square foot and each and everyone of the 50 seeds planted originally had emerged.

[petalfuzz]

I did 50 plants this year from seed, Milennium and Jersey, planted on 3/6. They all emerged a week later. They looked great, kept them under flourescents until May 15th and then moved them outdoors into SFG (Mel's Mix). It was a hard transplant as I had difficulty getting them out of the cell packs; next time - if there is a next time - I will use individual peat pots. The plants were doing fair until a week or two ago when I side dressed with a liitle PlantTone. We had heavy rain and in a day or two the plants are looking like champions. By the way, I do 4 to a square foot and each and everyone of the 50 seeds planted originally had emerged.

Awesome work! Such success! Gives me hope...

[cynthia_h]

I feel so...inadequate. I soaked my asparagus seeds for 48 hours, as recommended by my seed source (Baker Creek).

I then planted each seed (on May 26) in a small container with half and half compost and sand and placed them in an excellent sun area.

I kept them watered so that they weren't dripping but never were completely dry.

I have not one seedling.

Cynthia H.
USDA Zone 9/Sunset Zone 17