Asparagus - Cultivation
Asparagus grows in temperate climates where the plant will experience a period of dormancy due to winter freeze or seasonal drought. It is extremely sensitive to temperature and grows best in light, well-draining soil that warms quickly. Asparagus plants need full sun and frequent watering for the first two years. Fertilizer should also be used in the spring and fall, and mulch made up of straw, or dead foliage will help protect the plant from weeds and winter frost. Asparagus can be planted from seed in the early spring or planted with one-year-old crowns to speed up the growing process. When planted from seed, the spears of the plant should not be harvested for two seasons to give the plant adequate time to develop strong roots. After the roots are established, spears can be harvested daily when they are in season in the spring.