Planting dates
UGA says to plant asparagus in spring as soon as soil reaches 60°F. Its Home Gardening chart lists January 15 to March 15 for Middle Georgia spring planting and November 1 to December 1 for fall. Use those chart dates as a regional baseline rather than a county promise.
UGA: Home Gardening planting chartYour region
North Georgia spring planting runs about 2 weeks later and fall planting about 2 weeks earlier than the Middle Georgia chart, according to UGA. South Georgia can run about 2 weeks earlier in spring and somewhat later in fall. The soil-temperature check remains the better final condition for spring.
UGA: Home Gardening planting chartHow to plant crowns
Buy healthy one-year-old crowns. UGA specifies a trench 6 inches deep and 15 inches wide, with crowns 9 to 12 inches apart and buds pointing up. Cover them with 2 inches of soil at first, then add soil gradually as the plants grow in their first year.
UGA: Home Garden AsparagusPlan for an established bed
Asparagus is a perennial bed, not a quick annual crop. UGA says to begin harvesting in the second year after planting for about three weeks, then allow the foliage to rebuild the crowns. Put the bed where it will not be disrupted by annual garden work.
UGA: Home Garden AsparagusChoose your next step
The spring calendar is open but soil is below 60°F
Wait for the soil threshold instead of planting crowns by calendar alone.You are setting up a permanent bed
Choose a site before buying crowns, then use the trench and crown-spacing method from UGA.You garden in North or South Georgia
Use the Middle Georgia range as a baseline and apply UGA’s regional direction without creating an exact county date.Planting questions
Should I start asparagus from seed or crowns?
UGA recommends healthy one-year-old crowns for the home garden. Seed-grown crowns take at least another year to reach planting size.
UGA: Home Garden AsparagusCan I harvest asparagus in its first year?
UGA says to begin harvest in the second year after planting so the crowns can establish.
UGA: Home Garden AsparagusHow deep should the trench be?
UGA specifies a trench 6 inches deep and 15 inches wide for the crown-planting method.
UGA: Home Garden Asparagus