*Updated April 2026*
I’ll admit it, I’ve been obsessing over growing asparagus. One of the first veggies to appear in Minnesota each year, these delicacies have a unique flavor that both stand alone and play well with others.
Planting an asparagus patch takes a little planning, but you’ll be rewarded for years to come. These beautiful perennial spring veggies are also packed with powerful nutrition.
But their season is short, so let’s get right down to business.
Why Fresh Asparagus Tastes Better Than Store-Bought
The cute little bundles of asparagus spears hanging out in their wading pools of water in the supermarkets can be hit or miss when it comes to taste and texture. This is because most of the asparagus in stores is shipped from outside the United States.
Did you know food loses roughly 30% of its nutrients, with greens loosing nutrients the fastest. Freshness rally does matter.
Tip: Always look for tight buds at the top; once the flowers start unfurling, a chemical to strengthen the plants gets released and makes for woody and slightly bitter spears.
Where Does Asparagus Come From?
Over the last decades there’s been a big shift in supermarket asparagus, so it more than likely comes from outside the U.S., namely Mexico and Peru. Between NAFTA and the California drought, it has been tough for U.S. growers. (I am not wading into political waters, just sharing what I’ve been reading.) As this interesting article explains, “It is, you see, a uniquely labor-intensive crop to grow. According to Cherie Watte, executive director of the California Asparagus Commission, 75 percent of the production cost of asparagus derives from labor.”
These tender little treats are FIVE TIMES more perishable than lettuces, making timing important when you’re adding in shipping around the globe.
Different Spears for Different Folks
Add that asparagus really does rocket out of the ground, from under the dirt to full-grown in one day during peak growing conditions. That means skilled pickers have to be constantly picking asparagus stalks for the 6-8 week season. (I wonder what those skilled laborers do the other 44 to 46 weeks of the year?)
The spears are then sorted by size; Swiss folks like the fattest stalks (they know their stuff!) with lessening sizes sorted for different countries. Americans prefer the slimmest stalks. So we only see the uniform, skinniest spears of the harvest. This makes me feel so much better about my asparagus patch. I get all shapes and sizes there, all tender and delicious.
Large scale growers who export internationally require expensive automated machinery to make it profitable, right down to a huge cutter that gets them all the same length for shipping and according to this Huffington Post article, “The boxes are then loaded into a hydrocooler, which bathes them for five minutes in cold, chlorinated water containing food-grade citric acid. This is done to kill any pathogens the asparagus may have picked up in the field or during handling.” Well, hmmm, I’d rather just wash them at home thank you very much. Then those boxes put on THOUSANDS of miles in an airplane.
There must be a simpler way, like…
Buy Local Asparagus
Remember all our amazing Farmer’s Markets!?! The quantity and quality of the asparagus at local markets far outweighs what you’ll find in a grocery store. This is the better alternative to grocery stores if you ask me, mostly because of taste but also environmentally. Local farmers are out in their fields picking two times a day and dipping into cold water (minus the chlorine) and driving the harvest a lot less than 1,500 miles.
Let’s remember that your local farmer isn’t going to be sorting and sending part of their harvest to Switzerland; so please try the fatter stalks of asparagus- you won’t be disappointed, I promise!
When Is Asparagus In Season?
This answer is going to depend of where you live, as the season is tied to early spring temperatures. They will start to sprout once soil temperatures reach 40F-50F. But will grow rapidly, like up to 10″ in a 24-hour period with warmer temperatures. Which is why pickers will often go over a field twice in one day during peak production.
Because asparagus grows so fast, they are often harvested when spears are 6-10 inches high. In Minnesota where I grow, we usually harvest asparagus for 4 weeks from early May to early June, but the season has been inching earlier as the climate shifts.
Grow your Own Asparagus at Home
Starting an asparagus patch is an ‘intermediate’ grade gardening task. It requires thorough soil preparation but is totally doable. A patch can last up to fifteen (yes, 15!) years.
Look to buy 1-2 year old crowns. Start with a sunny spot and good drainage. *Try* to get rid of all the perennial weeds before planting.
The U of M extension service website is where I went to for specs when I planted mine; and here’s what they recommend, “Plant crown buds upward in a trench or furrow, about 12-18 inches apart and 6-8 inches deep. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil immediately after planting to keep them from drying out, and then continue to add soil as the shoots emerge, until eventually the furrow is filled by the end of the first growing season.”
The first two years you shouldn’t harvest many (if any) spears, but this waiting pays off big time over the span of the next fifteen years as plants continue producing bumper crops.
Harvest asparagus when they are 6-10″ tall by either breaking off at soil level or using a special pronged knife to cut below the soil level at a 45 degree angle.
Remember that by the end of summer these short spears become very tall (4-6 feet high) asparagus ferns, so planting in a location you won’t mind the height. I think they are a beautiful addition, just like a grass in the fall.
I love my Perennial Food Crops! Other articles on Aronia Berries, Strawberries, and Herbs too. Did you know there’s even a perennial kale, which I discuss in my article, Oh Kale Yeah .
Health Benefits of Asparagus
I’m telling you, it is such a cool feeling to be able to start harvesting fresh veggies in early May in Minnesota. Because it is a perennial vegetable, it stores up its energy in its crown (aka root system) over winter. The large fern-like stalks that grow when you stop harvesting gather all the plant needs to show up again early next spring and satisfy your green desires.
Maybe it is just because we bit the bullet and planted an asparagus patch a few years ago, but we anticipate our first meal with asparagus for weeks. It seems like our bodies crave it.
It is a nutritionally unique veggie. Researchers have identified nearly 100 phytonutrient compounds in asparagus.
Asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin K, folate, copper, selenium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, and vitamin E. It is a very good source of (prebiotic) dietary fiber, manganese, phosphorus, vitamin B3, potassium, choline, vitamin A, zinc, iron, protein, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid. It may even prevent UTIs due to its natural diuretic properties. Asparagus has antioxidants that protect your body from cell-damaging free radicals
Best Ways to Cook Asparagus
Because asparagus are so tender, and over 90% water they are best barely cooked if eating whole.
Grilling with a little olive oil and salt + pepper is easily my favorite, but sautéing with ramps (that recipe and blog on ramps here) is a close second.
Asparagus is also perfect with eggs (like this Strata recipe).
Basically, try to keep the spears out of water, and use a quick cook/high heat method to let them hold onto as much nutritional value as possible.
There are so many great asparagus soup recipes out there, I won’t even try to outdo asparagus soup that uses those starchier ends by Alan, The Forager Chef.
Growing Asparagus FAQs
Does asparagus need full sun?
Asparagus will grow best in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. 8 hours or more of sunlight is best and will keep spears from becoming spindly.
Where does asparagus grow best?
Asparagus grows best in rich, fertile, well draining soil. A deep, loose, sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5-7.5 is the perfect spot.
Can you grow asparagus in raised beds?
Technically, yes, but it depends on where you live. A slightly raised bed in northern areas may help warm the soil earlier, giving you earlier crops. But site selection where there is a warmer microclimate can warm just as early.
Is growing asparagus worth it?
The first rule of gardening is to grow what you love – so if you love asparagus, yes it is worth it. But, it is a short window of harvest and takes up some dedicated space. Interplanting with strawberries is a great way to double the harvest from the same square footage of garden.
So, is your mouth watering for asparagus yet? Do you have a favorite recipe?
Or are you ready to make an investment that will pay you back for 15 years and plant your own asparagus patch?
Dig In!
Michelle
I'd love to hear your thoughts!