Things You'll Need:
- Asparagus crowns
- Deep garden bed
- Compost and other organic materials
- Sharp knife
- Freezer bags
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Step 1
Purchase asparagus root crowns, sold as one-year crowns, in greenhouses, home and garden stores and some department stores. Try to find two year asparagus crowns if you want to get a head start on harvesting asparagus.
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Step 2
Build the asparagus bed at least one foot deep. Till the bed and pick out any rocks and large clumps of dirt. Add in compost and other organic materials such as leaf litter or crushed pine needles. Use an all-purpose vegetable fertilizer at least a week before you plant the asparagus crowns.
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Step 3
Dig a trench eight inches deep to plant the crowns in the asparagus bed. Place the crowns in the trench and spread out the roots a little. Cover the crowns with five inches of soil. Add soil as the asparagus sends spears up through the soil.
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Step 4
Choose asparagus spears that are at least as thick as a pencil. Make sure the spears are also at least seven inches tall before you harvest them. The spears should have tight heads with no signs of disease, damage or starting to spread and flower.
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Step 5
Bend the asparagus spear until it snaps off. This will leave the bottom two to three inches of the plant. The bottom part is usually stringy and hard and you can also use a sharp knife to cut the asparagus spear at soil level.
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Step 6
Store asparagus spears in freezer bags as quickly as possible, and place in the refrigerator for up to a week. Freeze asparagus spears by first blanching them for two minutes in boiling water. Dry them on paper towels and place them in freezer bags to store them in the freezer.
