When to plant Asparagus
A perennial that rewards patience for decades. Plant dormant crowns in a permanent, well-drained bed in early spring. Resist cutting spears the first year or two so the ferns can build the roots — then enjoy spring spears for 15–20 years.
Companions: Tomato, basil, parsley — a permanent bed, so site it carefully
How to grow Asparagus
Asparagus can be grown from seed on the schedule below. Give it full sun and space plants about 18 inches apart. It takes roughly 365 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include tomato, basil, parsley — a permanent bed, so site it carefully.
Grower's tip: A long-lived perennial — plant crowns in spring, but don't harvest spears until the second or third year.
When to plant Asparagus by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same asparagus goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Transplant outdoors May 18–Jun 1 |
| Zone 1b | Transplant outdoors May 13–May 27 |
| Zone 2a | Transplant outdoors May 8–May 22 |
| Zone 2b | Transplant outdoors May 2–May 16 |
| Zone 3a | Transplant outdoors Apr 27–May 11 |
| Zone 3b | Transplant outdoors Apr 22–May 6 |
| Zone 4a | Transplant outdoors Apr 17–May 1 |
| Zone 4b | Transplant outdoors Apr 12–Apr 26 |
| Zone 5a | Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Zone 5b | Transplant outdoors Apr 2–Apr 16 |
| Zone 6a | Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Zone 6b | Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Zone 7a | Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 24 |
| Zone 7b | Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 18 |
| Zone 8a | Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Zone 8b | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Zone 9a | Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Zone 9b | Transplant outdoors Jan 18–Feb 1 |
| Zone 10a | Transplant outdoors Jan 3–Jan 17 |
| Zone 10b | Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 11a | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Zone 11b | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Zone 12a | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Zone 12b | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Zone 13a | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Zone 13b | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |