What Part of the Plant Does Asparagus Come From?

Asparagus plants thrive with proper light and water.

Asparagus is a vegetable that is part of the lily family of plants. It can be grown in most areas of the country and is harvested for its edible stalks, or spears.

Cultivation

Asparagus spears grow from crowns that are planted in well-drained sandy soil, about a foot underground. The crown is a complex root system that develops from an asparagus seed over a one-year period.

Growth Pattern

The crowns from which the spears grow take three years to become strong enough to produce spears that can grow upright. After three years, each plant grows spears for six to seven weeks in the spring and summer. If planted in perfect soil and exposed to ideal conditions, a single spear can grow 10 inches in a single 24-hour time frame.

Harvesting

Asparagus is very sensitive to temperatures. During cooler spring weather, stalks need picking every four or five days. When the weather gets hotter, the crop may require harvesting every day.

Fun Facts

Although it takes three years to get the first edible vegetables, a well-tended plant will produce asparagus for about 15 years. White asparagus is produced by piling soil on top of developing green asparagus plants to prevent their turning green in sunlight.

References

• Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board: Facts About Asparagus
• The Kitchen Project: The History of Asparagus
• Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Growing Asparagus in the Home Garden