When Should You Plant Asparagus Crowns?
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GardenSays
Sow asparagus plants outside May 5 – May 30 — after frost danger passes and soil has warmed.
- Sow from
- May 5 – May 30
- Last frost (typ.)
- May 5
Asparagus plants are cold-hardy and germinate poorly in cold, wet ground — unlike peas or lettuce, you wait until AFTER the last frost (May 5) and until the soil warms. Sowing too early into cold spring soil rots the seed. The safe window in Minneapolis, MN opens around May 5.
Do this this week
- 1.The main sowing window closed May 30
Calculated result · 3 verified sources · Checked 2026-07-18 · How we decide
Why
Sow through the warm months; asparagus plants stop producing once nights turn cold.
- Warm-season crops need warm soil to germinate: cold, wet spring ground causes seed rot and poor stands, which is why they go in after frost, not before.
- Days-to-maturity versus your frost-free season sets how late you can keep sowing.
When this doesn't apply
- UMN gives a Minnesota calendar window (early May to first week of June) for planting dormant crowns; converted to a Minneapolis-relative estimate (last frost ~May 5). This is a one-time planting for a bed that lasts up to 15 years, not an annual replant.
- A cold snap after sowing can still kill seedlings — hold off if a late frost is forecast, even inside the window.
How this was calculated
- 1. Last spring frostMay 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
- 2. First sowing windowMay 5 – May 30Calculated result
Asparagus is cold-hardy — sow only after frost danger passes AND soil has warmed (0-25 days after the last frost)
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing asparagus in home gardens — Plant one-year-old crowns into furrows 8-10 inches deep (6 in clay soil, up to 12 in sandy soil). In Minnesota, planting runs early May to the first week of June. An asparagus planting can last 15 years. Soil pH 6.5-7.0; needs good drainage. (checked 2026-07-18)
- NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
- National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)
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People also ask
When can I start harvesting asparagus?
Harvest asparagus plants when spears are 6-8 inches tall with tight, unopened tips — cut or snap once the bed is established — begin harvest 2 years after planting crowns. Calculate yours →
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