# 11: Besides Kids, Who Doesn’t Like Asparagus? June 13, 2019

Growing asparagus is relatively easy and as carefree as you decide to make it.

It can be grown throughout most of the US except in the southernmost regions of the Gulf Coast States, which are too warm and rainy. This plant needs a period of winter freeze and well-draining soil. I live in northwest Georgia and have successfully grown it for years in an elevated area of my yard. They prefer full sun but will do well in partial shade too.

I bought six “crowns” for planting since I didn’t want to wait too long for the seeds to grow. Asparagus needs room to grow properly and can spread rather quickly by sending out tubers. I dug a 4′x18″ trench to plant these in. “Experts” say they need more room than that, but this was the space I had available. Mine have done fine.

Plant them on a bed of rich compost and manure for best results mixed with sand to ensure good drainage if necessary. After covering the crowns with soil, mulch them heavily to prevent weeds from invading. Eventually, the asparagus will crowd out any weeds that do grow, but this takes several years.

Be patient. The old, “The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap,” is accurate with asparagus. By the third year, I had more than we could possibly eat and we pickled several jars of the tender sprouts.

There are several varieties, so be sure to ask your local garden center what is best for your area.

If you prefer white asparagus, this is easily achieved. It is simply regular green asparagus that is “sun starved.” When I see the spears begin to emerge, I pile a mix of loose soil and compost high over them. The spears will grow up through this and when I am ready to harvest, I remove the cover and have white tenders to eat. I have also placed 18 inch tall PVC pipes around the growing spears to block out most of the sunlight; this achieves the same effect.

I have never had any problems, but asparagus is subject to certain pests and diseases that can be remedied if caught early on by use of natural or chemical sprays. Again, consult your garden center or agriculture agencies.

I have read of people growing asparagus successfully in containers, although I have never tried this.

As I began, asparagus is as labor intensive as you want it to be. By the fifth year after planting, I only ever added a thick layer of mulch in early spring and shoved PVC piping over the spears I wanted to be white. Otherwise, it’s been carefree.

If you like fresh asparagus, I highly recommend that you grow your own. As an added bonus, it’s a visually pretty plant and the foliage serves well in a cut flower arrangement.