Wendy, I keep an asparagus fern as a houseplant all season. They don't ask much and are pretty indestructible.

Yes, I do take it in and out, but in the fall, I cut them way back when they come in. I don't find they drop needles unless I don't water enough. The only problem I have is that the strongest light in my house comes from a western window that also has the late afternoon sun limited by trees. I don't think they get enough light and the stems grow too long and scraggly.

Wendy,
Aparagus fern has tolerated my extreme neglect during the winter which includes low-no light. Just cut it back in the spring and bring it back outside where it will fill out in no time.
So what yummy plant has taken it's place in your basement?

nothing so yummy this year yet:

There is some kind of houseplant fern, something called moses-in-a-cradle, spider plants, Diamond Frost euphorbias (annual), Colocasia Illustris, a small piece of asparagus fern (in case the big one in question doesn't make it), an amaryllis that bloomed out of cycle late Aug.

As far as yummy, these guys are waiting for a spot. I can't bear to take cuttings yet while they are in bloom. But eventually I will take cuttings and pot up a few. These were both from cuttings last year.

So what do we think will happen to an asparagus fern protected in the garage? Especially since I've got another one as backup. worth an experiment? Or I could put it in the floor on the basement and try to catch some distant flourescent light rays.

Wendy, no answer to a garage question, but in general my experience completely in line with PM and Kt- I bring it in home to low light location, water the whole winter, cut the most scraggly looking fronds to the ground in February and by late May got a nice looking plant ready to go outside.
Thank you for remainder to bring it in :-))

Hi
I take in my HUGH pots of asparagus ferns in every year after the first frost up here (this year I was on vacation last week & they survived the snow no problem), plop them in a corner of the basement that gets minimal light, water them rarely-usually when the dryer cycle is almost done but not done enough to stop--in other words when I'm hanging around the basement & notice the poor things. They are 5 or 6 years old & doing GREAT. As a matter of fact I better bring them in before the Steeler game today!
Hope that helps!