I've never done asparagus from seed. Typically they are most often planted as one year old crowns....so last year's seeds now partially grown up. And floral's spacing suggestion is correct....about 24" on center.

Four plants is not going to produce much. Most sources will suggest a minimum of 5 plants per person and some take it up to as much as 10 plants per person. Guess it depends on how much you like asparagus :-) And don't plan on harvesting any for at least 3 years.

I would go with 16, one per square foot, closer for purple varieties. I doubt you will be using mechanical cultivation in that size bed so you do not need the wide row spacing. And I'd seriously consider buying one or two year old roots to speed up the process. If you do go with seeds, you do not need to plant them in their final location and spacing this year. Grow them in pots and transplant when they get to a good size later in the season or plant closer together in the ground. Then dig and set them out to proper spacing next year.

16 in a 4 x 4 bed would give each plant 1 sq ft, as you say. My asparagus plants take up 4 sq ft each. They spread out from the crown and need to be on 24 in centres imo. I started with 6 crowns and they now produce enough for two people to have asparagus twice a week in the season. If you want to freeze or preserve, obviously you'd want more plants.

I would plant 9 in a 4x4 bed in a 3x3 grid.

I ended up successfully sowing 4 seeds (out of 12). It took 2 weeks! They are about 1,5 inches now. What do I do with them now???

So I tried sowing Mary Washington and 6 have sprouted! What do I do with these little guys now?!

I would get them into their final spot ASAP. 4 of them are quite tall and spindly already.

I sowed Mary Washington seeds in the ground about 6 weeks ago. They just started sprouting about a week ago. I planted them in 2 rows a foot apart and then a 2 foot row and then 2 more rows a foot apart. I planted them 6 inches apart in the row.

Mary Washington seeds will grow male and female plants while most crowns are sold as mostly males. The males grow bigger sprouts and the females will produce seeds, which most don't want. So my theory is that this fall I'll know which are the females and I'll mark them. Next spring as the females sprout I'll harvest and eat the shoots and then remove them with a bulb planter.

I also plan on keeping a few females to obtain seed in the future. I'll also find out if there really is any difference in shoot size. I've been told there isn't.

i can't plant now... I was hoping a week or so.. I am building a a raised box for them. What should I do? Will they make it?

I wonder if you could "heal them in". Set your plants tray and all on the ground or another raised bed and mound up dirt, peat or potting soil around them???

So when I plant these how deep should I set them? Should I plant them deeper than they are now?

They plant crowns deep, but I would set plants in the ground at the same depth they have been growing at. In my opinion you need to plant more seeds, hopefully it's not too late, If 50-70% of your plants are females you'll have one or two plants left for the future. It's my opinion that in your 4x4 raised bed you have more opportunity for sunlight to reach the plants than you would in a large field or plot of the same plants. It's recommended to grow 10 plants per individual eating the asparagus.

At least replant the pots that weren't successful. I would put at least 4 seeds per pot. You have the seeds, use them.

Good luck.

thanks... if I run out of time and these guys don't make it, I will replant in a few days then have the seeds ready to plant later in June...

I assume I can still put seedings in the ground in later June?