It takes about 3 years for the roots to get a good foothold in the garden.Prepare your bed carefully and let them grow for 3 years and you should be picking some nice sized shoots.I dug a trench 30 feet long and 2 feet deep and filled it with Carp and Compost.The plants went crazy and we enjoyed very large shoots for about 3 years until the aphids got to be a problem.They sickend the plants and we lost them.All that hard work paid off but the bug's won out.As long as you don't have aphids you should be allright.

I researched this when I was going to plant asperagus. It comes to mind it takes a year longer opposed to buying the roots. So if you dont mind waiting another year to harvest then go for it. I personally wanted the quickest easiest way to get it going. I bought them at Nourse Farms
P.S. I bought three times what I needed and sold the others on craiglist. But that was before the crazy went crazy on craiglist. Today people are more sceptical.

I researched this when I was going to plant asperagus. It comes to mind it takes a year longer opposed to buying the roots. So if you dont mind waiting another year to harvest then go for it. I personally wanted the quickest easiest way to get it going. I bought them at Nourse Farms
P.S. I bought three times what I needed and sold the others on craiglist. But that was before the crazy went crazy on craiglist. Today people are more sceptical.

Toothpick-width shoots are totally normal for the *first* year growing from seed. Obviously, you're not going to eat these. If they're growing well, they should put out two or three shoots by the end of the year. Mine grew only about 6 inches tall. By the end of the first year, under the ground there should be a well formed crown with next year's shoots already visible, but tiny and dormant. This is what is typically shipped as a one-year old crown. Sometimes they will even call it a two-year crown since it is its second year of growth when shipped. But some vendors actually do sell crowns that are really two years old, so you need to know what you're ordering if it says two-year old crowns.
The second year of growth after planting from seed you will still not want to pick any spears. They should be considerably thicker and should grow at least two feet tall. Just let them grow and feed them as you might other vegetables.
I haven't seen the third year yet but from what I understand this is when you can start picking, but only on a limited basis. You're not into full production yet. My feeling is that I would only take one batch of spears from any plant and then leave them to grow into mature plants.

I've planted Purple Passion roots twice. Many did not live.

I've transplanted seedlings too. Some did not survive the first winter.

I'm not sure I really understand the OP.

o You don't define 'a while'. Patience. Asparagus from seed takes a long time. One year longer than crowns from the nursery-mail order. This also applies to the vague 'big enough' statement.

o You can do better than WalMart. Purchase crowns at a reputable nursery-mail order.

o You don't define 'soil quality'. You should be growing in pots for transplant. If you used poor quality soil from, say, WalMart, fertilize. If you for some reason direct-seeded and are already concerned about soil quality, your bed will be inadequate for crowns.

Dan

thanks, wayne5.

i had similar experiences, too. i direct seeded some mary washington seeds, they grow some toothpick like spears, then some just died.

some of the asparagus have been growing for more than a year, but like i stated in my first message, the thickest spears were like twice size of a toothpick.

so that is why i am wondering maybe i should try to grow from the $3 walmart asparagus roots, maybe they will grow to the normal size? has anyone tried that?

In 2 years, from roots, if properly taken care of, then yes you should get some harvestable shoots. More after that.

I've grown Mary Washington from seed and they were that size the first spring, pencil size the second spring, and harvestable/normal the 3rd; right on schedule. I don't think it's your seed, I think it's the bed and conditions they are in. If so, you may get spears the 2nd year from buying established crowns but they are ultimately not going to do well.

I don't think it's your seed, I think it's the bed and conditions they are in.

Yes. For future folks finding this thread, the soil in your asparagus bed is the most important thing for success (avoiding 3.00 bags at WalMart is a close second). Once you take care of asparagus' soil needs, the rest takes care of itself. If you don't take care of its soil needs, you are asking for trouble.

Dan