Think hard about where to plant asparagus because this choice lasts 15-30 years. You want full sun, good drainage, and soil with the right pH. Pick the wrong spot now and you'll regret it for decades. Pick the right spot and you'll enjoy easy harvests every spring.
Good asparagus site selection starts with watching your garden through the seasons. Note where shadows fall as the sun moves across the sky. A spot that gets full sun in June might be shaded by trees or buildings in April when spears emerge. You need direct sunlight for the entire growing season.
I learned this the hard way with my first asparagus bed. I planted it near a young maple tree that seemed small at the time. Within five years that tree shaded half my bed. The shaded crowns made thin, weak spears while the sunny side thrived. Moving an asparagus bed is a huge pain so get the light right from the start.
Your asparagus location needs 6-8 hours of direct sun at minimum. For best results, aim for 8-10 hours daily. Sunlight powers the fern growth that charges up your crowns for next year's harvest. Less sun means less energy stored and fewer spears produced.
Drainage matters just as much as sun. Asparagus roots rot fast in wet soil. Test your site by digging a hole about 12 inches (30 cm) deep after a heavy rain. If water sits in the hole for more than an hour, that spot won't work. Find higher ground or build a raised bed instead.
Test your soil pH before planting. Asparagus grows best in soil between pH 6.5 and 7.5. Most garden centers sell cheap test kits that give you a quick reading. If your soil runs too acidic, add lime to raise the pH. If it's too alkaline, work in sulfur to bring it down.
Keep your asparagus garden placement at least 3 feet (0.9 m) from buildings, fences, and trees. Crown roots spread out over time and need room to grow. Structures block airflow and create shade that hurts fern growth. Nearby tree roots steal water and nutrients from your asparagus.
Pick a spot where weeds don't take over every year. Heavy weed pressure from crabgrass, bindweed, or quackgrass will haunt your asparagus bed forever. These weeds are almost impossible to remove once they grow between asparagus crowns. Clean soil now saves you endless work later.
Consider where you might expand your garden in future years. Asparagus ferns grow 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) tall and can shade nearby crops. Place your bed along the north edge of your garden so the tall ferns don't block sun from other plants. This also keeps the bed out of high-traffic paths.
I tested a bed in a low corner of my yard where water pooled after rain. Within two years, half those crowns had died from root rot. The survivors made thin spears that weren't worth eating. Don't repeat my mistake. Spend time now to find the perfect spot and your asparagus will reward you for decades.
Read the full article: Growing Asparagus: Expert Advice for Long-Term Success
