How To Grow Asparagus in a Container: A Complete Guide

Learning how to grow asparagus in a container is not as difficult as many people imagine. Growing asparagus in a container will not only save you money but is also an excellent hobby.

The best thing is you don’t need an asparagus home garden, as you can easily grow it in a container. Continue reading to learn more about the growing process.

How To Grow Delicious Asparagus in a Container?

To grow delicious asparagus in a container, you can start with crowns or seeds. Afterward, select a right-sized container, put the soil in it, plant seeds or crowns, and water it. Then comes harvesting. Remember that good quality soil is also essential, along with the right environmental conditions.

1. Select the Right Container

Selecting a suitable container is the first step in planting asparagus. Asparagus is a deep-root plant, so you will need a deep pot. A 20-inch-deep container will be the right fit. A plastic container will work best for you because it’s durable and inexpensive.

You will need a container with drainage holes. Drainage holes help drain the container’s excess water and save the plant from a deadly fungal disease, root rot. You can also put a 3-inch layer of gravel at the bottom of your container, as this helps in faster drainage.

2. Choose the Right Soil

Buy potting soil mix from your nearby nursery to get the best results. A good soil mix doesn’t have weed seeds, unlike regular garden dirt. That way, an asparagus plant doesn’t have to fight weeds for nutrients.

Garden soil also has pests and diseases in them, so it’s best to get a good-quality pot soil mix.

It is vital to use appropriate soil for the asparagus bed. Because asparagus consumes more water and remains in place long, the soil must be light, porous, and nutrient-rich. They have a robust root system that grows when they are young.

3. Start With Seeds

Asparagus plants can be grown from seed, and you can also plant crowns. It is totally up to you. If you start with seeds, it will take almost three years for asparagus to grow. But if you plant crowns, your wait time will be reduced by two years.

Asparagus seeds are widely available at your local nursery, or you can even buy them from any reputable online store and help you grow asparagus in the home garden.

Unlike female plants, male asparagus grows longer, so you will get a better harvest if you buy male seeds. Male asparagus spears are thicker and more suitable for cooking. You should also plant 2 or 3 seeds in a pot for the best germination chances.

Another tip is submerging your seeds in water for around 24 hours to help them germinate faster. The temperature in the middle of April is warm enough for germination. Therefore, April is the best time for the plantation.

So how to grow asparagus from seed? Plant asparagus from seeds in well-fertilized soil, water well, give them 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily, and most importantly, be patient.

4. Grow Asparagus From Crowns

You can also plant asparagus crowns and cut your harvest time by one year. You can dig an 8-inch hole in your soil, plant the asparagus crowns, gently spread the roots, and then cover the gap nicely with the soil. You can start harvesting asparagus in 2 to 6 weeks.

Can you grow asparagus from cut stalks? Yes, you can. You just need to trim the ends and then plant them in a container after they’ve dried a bit.

5. Give the Plant Enough Sunlight

Asparagus needs 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day. Asparagus can grow in shades, but its growth will be slow. So, keep in mind that it needs full sunlight for speedy development. It also requires a stable temperature of around 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, as otherwise, the plant will not grow well.

The most significant benefit of asparagus in a barrel is that you can move it. Now, you can tackle the above problems by simply moving the pot. You should also consider the effect of temperature on the growth of asparagus seedlings because their growth will be significantly reduced if they don’t get a stable temperature.

6. Water Your Plant Frequently

Asparagus requires a lot of water for the first couple of weeks. The soil should be moist enough for the plant to take all necessary water. Every morning you should check the soil by putting a finger in the soil. If you can’t feel the moisture, your plant needs water.

When it comes to asparagus plants, you want a clean environment around them. Insufficient moisture will cause the asparagus plants to wilt. Ensure you don’t overwater your plant because it will lead to fungal diseases that can kill it.

7. Add Fertilizers Regularly

It’s a fantastic idea to sprinkle some compost or manure that has been composted once a month around your plant. It provides extra nutrients to the plants during the growing season. You can also feed your plant with fertilizer. Following planting in the spring, you could apply fertilizer all around the plant, as it will be enough for several months.

8. Remove Unwanted Seedlings

You should plant multiple seeds in the pot to increase the likelihood of germination. All the seeds that you planted may have germinated. You can’t have multiple plants in a single pot because they will fight for nutrients.

To counter this, you have to remove all but one seedling. The best time for thinning is when your plant has grown 3 inches, but if you have planted the crowns, you wouldn’t have to worry about thinning.

9. Harvest Asparagus Spears

The plant will produce spears during the first year, but you should let those grow. You can even see the berries developing – just pull them off and let the stems die back. The asparagus should be trimmed to the ground in the fall. In the second year, repeat a similar process.

You can pick spears in your third year of container-grown asparagus, but you must leave some plants to develop roots/rhizomes. Leaving some of the plants behind helps your plant harden off by giving it the power to produce more spears the next year.

How many times is it possible to harvest asparagus in a year? You can harvest asparagus spears every two to four days early in the season. Up to 24 harvests are possible each season, after which you can let the crowns spread out.

10. Apply Pest Control

Throughout the season, check the leaves for insect feeding. For example, the Asparagus beetle feeds on the leaves, turning the stem brown and limiting production the following year. When bugs are spotted, spray the foliage with a certified pesticide. If beetles are abundant, discarding plants after the growing season may be required.

One of the many advantages of growing asparagus from seed in pots is moving the container without harming the plant. It is advisable to do companion planting of asparagus and tomatoes. Asparagus produces nicely next to tomatoes because tomatoes repel beetles, and asparagus repels nematodes that harm tomato plants.

11. Store Asparagus

Asparagus is a fragile plant when it comes to storage. It is challenging to store asparagus properly. You have to follow multiple procedures before adequately storing them. Asparagus is highly perishable and should be gathered early in the morning while air temperatures are low.

After plucking, soak the spears in ice-cold water to eliminate the heat, drain the water and put the spears in plastic bags. Refrigerate between 38 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Asparagus may be stored for 1 to 2 weeks without losing quality.

FAQs

– How To Grow Asparagus at Home Properly?

To grow asparagus at home properly, you can grow them from seeds and crowns in pots or other containers or even in the garden. Growing asparagus in raised beds is also a common practice. So, how you want your asparagus to grow is up to you.

– In What Location Does Asparagus Grow Best?

Asparagus grows best in a location that is not low-lying or exposed to frost because late spring frosts can kill newly emerged spears. Choose a site with moist soil that is fertile, sunny, and well-drained. Asparagus roots are extensive, so avoid areas with shallow soils prone to becoming water-saturated.

Conclusion

If you are interested in gardening and have a lot of patience, asparagus is the right plant to grow for you. Things for you to keep in mind are:

• Pick a right-sized container with drainage holes, fertilize the soil with enough nutrients, and then plant crowns or seeds.
• Give it enough sunlight and water it regularly.
• Harvest carefully and leave enough of the plant behind to grow for the next harvest. Most importantly, you must have patience.

Growing the plant in a pot can be difficult, but following all the steps carefully will be a good project for you. It will help you produce asparagus without any problem.