How to plant and care for Asparagus (Gijnlim)

Asparagus officinalis

🥕 Vegetable 🔁 Perennial

Tender spears every spring for 20 years. Needs patience: no cutting in the first year, a light harvest in the second.

At a glance: harvest in April.

When to plant and care for it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Plant

Harvest

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Mid March – late April · 4 weeks before the last spring frost
Plant Crowns
Plant crowns 40 cm in a trench apart in well-prepared, weed-free ground enriched with compost. Spread the roots over a ridge in a 20 cm trench and cover with 5 cm of soil.
0–1 days after “Plant Crowns” · Mid March
Water In
Water well and keep moist while they establish.
14–21 days after “Water In” · Late March – early April
Mulch
Mulch with well-rotted manure or compost to hold moisture and smother weeds.

March
Weed and Mulch the Bed
Hand-weed carefully and mulch with compost or manure.
April
Cut Spears (From Year 2–3)
Cut spears 2–3 cm below the soil when 15–20 cm tall. In year 2 take only a few; from year 3 cut for about 6 weeks.
Starts from year 2.
June
Stop Cutting
Stop cutting by midsummer and let the ferns grow to feed the crowns for next year.
Starts from year 2.
November
Cut Down Yellow Ferns
Cut the yellowed ferns to 3 cm above ground.