Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

A rhizome. A stem that grows sideways at or just below the soil, with nodes that make shoots above and roots below.

Whole

Cut open

Store	Rhizome. Grows horizontally and is segmented, with a shoot at the growing tip.
Depth	15-20 cm to the base of the rhizome
Spacing	30-45 cm apart
When	Plant in spring. Plant: 4 weeks before up to your last spring frost. Work out your dates.
Pets	Not on the ASPCA list: treat as unsafe to chew

About Asparagus

A long-lived crown of fleshy roots. Berries are poisonous.

Depth and spacing

Typical range: 15-20 cm deep and 30-45 cm apart. A general rule is to plant at two to three times the height of the rhizome; check the label for your variety. The drawing is to scale for 17.5 cm deep and 37.5 cm apart (the size of the organ is illustrative); try your own measurements.

When to plant

Plant in spring. Plant: 4 weeks before up to your last spring frost. These are rules of thumb for the northern hemisphere. Enter your frost dates for real dates.

Dividing and propagating

Plant crowns in spring in a trench. Do not harvest spears for the first two years.

Lifting and storing

Not stored. Plant at once.

Not on the ASPCA list

The ASPCA plant list has no entry we could match to this plant, so we cannot say it is safe. Keep pets from chewing it and digging up the rhizome, and ask your vet if in doubt. Search the ASPCA list.