A better question might be how much space you have. I'm going to be planting an asparagus bed next year and I only have room for about a dozen plants. So that's what I'm going to plant. Asparagus isn't like corn that needs a certain number of plants to be pollinated corrected. The plants I was looking at, at the local nursery, got about 4-6 feet tall, which was perfect for the spot I wanted to put them in. I don't know if other types have different habits.

Asparagus crowns can go in about 1 foot to 18 apart and the rows should be about 5 feet apart. The Jersey series (Jersey Knight, Jersey Giant, etc) are all male so you don't have to deal with unwanted seedlings that crowd the row.

I'm one person and have about 20 plants. I ate a lot, froze some, sold some and then let the planting go last spring after 5 1/2 weeks, though I could have gone to 8 weeks picking. I was burnt out, even though I love asparagus.

If this is to be a long-term patch - plants will easily go 15 years if well cared for - then go with a minimum of 2 foot square for each crown if you have the room. So 80 sq. feet for your 40 plants. They will expand to fill that area within 3 years. You can get by with less but it will rapidly become rootbound and need to be thinned out which is a fair amount of work.

Ditto the use of Jersey all male varieties rather than Martha or Mary Washington - much better production - and buy at least 2 year old crowns for faster harvesting.

For the 2 of us we have 2 beds that started with 50 crowns each 9 years ago. By now there are likely 2x that many. ;)

Dave

I have mine planted about a foot apart, but do a double row with the rows about 18 inches apart. It seems to work fine and they have been in for maybe 8 or 9 years. They are Jersey varieties so don't seed.

Try this: Set up a 8'x3' framed bed per person, 8 crowns per bed. If you want more after they start to produce heavily in 3 years, add a couple more.

I really like the idea of a raised bed, particularly because utilities are buried below some of my garden area, so I can't dig there.

So say I wanted to create a raised bed (or a few), should I build them soon so I can build up compost/manure/soil etc? Anything else I should put in there? I have no experience with raised beds, but I was fascinated by them a few months ago. And should they be tall beds (like 2-3'), since apparently the roots are substantial?

Also, how much sun does 'gus need?

thanks!
Jenny

I just spent nearly every second since that last post reading about raised beds and have a much better idea what to do. I'm completely fascinated again! I also just found Square Foot Gardening (2006) on ebay, should be here in a couple days.

So would it work to wait until spring to build the beds, since I have access to free compost and manure via my Dad's farm? Of course, building anything outside in Feb/Mar in KS is no fun, as I recall (I hadn't lived in the state for a decade until 2 wks ago). OTHO, waiting might give my "farmer" time to cut down the tree shading my garden... (it's a problematic tree anyway)

But I'll keep that question out there about how high asparagus beds should be for the root system. I don't know about burying animals here yet, but I think a wire base sounds like a good idea.

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions!
Jenny

Hi Jenny - raised beds are great and 10-12 inches deep should work fine. I have 1 old one we are phasing out that is 18 inches deep and it never performed any better or worse than the others.

But if you can, I would recommend building the beds and getting them ready this fall so you can plant ASAP in the spring. As to sun - as much as possible. The more the better. ;)

Dave

Jenny, Welcome to Kansas. I have lived here my whole life. I grew up on a Dairy farm but now live in the KC area.

Personally I would try and get the raised beds built this fall. It always amazes me what the freeze thaw cycle does to the dirt.

This year was the first year I tried growing aspagus and didn't have much luck. I think that I didn't get them in the ground early enough. So another reason to get the raised beds built this fall. Next year I plan on getting them in the ground as soon as I can which hopefully will be in March sometime.

Well good luck. I hope that in 2 years you have more aspagus than you can eat.

Randy