Asparagus is available in several forms at your local Earl May Garden Center:

  1. Two varieties of asparagus seed packets – Jersey Knight & Mary Washington.
  2. One variety of asparagus roots – Jersey King.  Each package contains seven roots.  Generally, these are available at the Garden Centers in early spring.

The preparation of the planting bed will be similar with whichever method you choose, seeds or roots.  You will want a good deep loose soil with good fertility.  Set your plants one-foot apart and space your rows two-feet apart.

The early years of your asparagus bed will have similar harvesting restrictions, so there is no advantage of seeds verses roots.  The restrictions are – No harvest the first year, limited harvest the second year, and full harvest the third year.

Asparagus is a heavy feeder and will respond with bumper crops if you fertilize each year.  For the best yield, keep weeds to a minimum and stop harvesting the first part of June.