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You can grow asparagus from asparagus, but not in the way most people imagine.
You can’t just take a stalk from the grocery store, stick it in the ground, and expect a harvest.
However, you can grow asparagus from asparagus crowns, which are the roots of established plants, and you can also grow it from the seeds found in the berries of female asparagus plants.
If you’ve ever wondered “can you grow asparagus from asparagus?” the short answer is yes, but the method matters a lot.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly how you can grow asparagus from asparagus crowns and seeds, why the grocery store stuff won’t work, and how to get a bed started the right way.
Can You Grow Asparagus From Asparagus? Yes, Here’s How
You can grow asparagus from asparagus by using crowns or seeds, but each method has its own timeline and challenges.
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning it comes back year after year if you plant it properly.
The key is understanding which part of the asparagus plant actually grows into a new plant.
1. Growing Asparagus From Crowns
The most reliable way to grow asparagus from asparagus is by planting crowns.
A crown is a one-year-old root system that you can buy from garden centers or online nurseries.
When you plant asparagus crowns, you’re essentially giving the plant a head start.
You dig a trench about 12 inches deep, create a mound in the bottom, and spread the roots over the mound.
Then you cover the crown with a few inches of soil and fill the trench gradually as the spears grow.
This method lets you harvest a few spears in the second year and a full crop by the third.
2. Growing Asparagus From Seeds
You can also grow asparagus from asparagus seeds, but this takes patience.
Female asparagus plants produce small red berries in late summer, and inside those berries are the seeds.
You can harvest those seeds, dry them, and plant them indoors in early spring.
The seeds germinate in two to three weeks, and you’ll get small seedlings.
But here’s the catch: growing asparagus from seed means you won’t harvest anything for at least three years, sometimes four.
That’s why most gardeners skip the seed route and go straight to crowns.
3. Why Grocery Store Asparagus Won’t Grow
The asparagus you buy at the grocery store won’t grow into a new plant.
Those spears are just the young shoots, and they don’t have roots or a crown attached.
You can try rooting a spear in water, but it almost never works because asparagus doesn’t propagate that way.
So if you’re asking “can you grow asparagus from asparagus spears?”, the answer is no.
You need either crowns or seeds to start a new patch.
How to Grow Asparagus From Asparagus Crowns Step by Step
If you want to grow asparagus from asparagus crowns, here’s the process broken down.
1. Choose the Right Spot
Asparagus needs full sun and well-drained soil.
Pick a spot where the plants can stay for 15 to 20 years because asparagus doesn’t like being moved.
Also, make sure the area is free of perennial weeds since asparagus roots don’t compete well.
2. Prepare the Soil
Before you plant asparagus crowns, work in plenty of compost or aged manure.
Asparagus loves rich, loose soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
If your soil is heavy clay, add sand or peat moss to improve drainage.
3. Plant the Crowns
Dig a trench about 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
Form a ridge in the center and set the crowns on top, spreading the roots down the sides.
Space the crowns 12 to 18 inches apart.
Cover them with two to three inches of soil and water well.
As the spears emerge, keep adding soil until the trench is filled.
4. Water and Mulch
Keep the bed evenly moist during the first year.
Once the plants are established, they’re fairly drought-tolerant.
Spread a layer of mulch to keep weeds down and retain moisture.
Just don’t bury the crowns too deep or they’ll rot.
What to Expect When You Grow Asparagus From Asparagus
When you grow asparagus from asparagus crowns, you won’t get a full harvest right away.
The first year, let all the spears grow into ferns so the plant can build energy.
The second year, you can cut a few spears for a couple of weeks.
By the third year, you can harvest for six to eight weeks in spring.
After that, you can cut spears every spring for decades if you take care of the bed.
If you grow asparagus from seeds, add an extra year or two to that timeline.
So, Can You Grow Asparagus From Asparagus?
Yes, you can grow asparagus from asparagus, but you need to start with crowns or seeds, not the spears from the store.
Growing asparagus from crowns is faster and more reliable, while growing from seeds takes patience but costs less.
Either way, you’re investing in a perennial crop that can feed you for 20 years or more.
So if you’ve been asking “can you grow asparagus from asparagus?”, now you know the answer and how to do it right.