• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Seasonal guides
  • Garden
  • About
  • Subscribe
  •  

Ask the Food Geek logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Seasonal guides
  • Garden
  • About
  • Subscribe
  •  
search icon
Homepage link
  • Seasonal guides
  • Garden
  • About
  • Subscribe
  •  
×
Home » Garden » When & how to harvest asparagus

Published: Sep 5, 2023 · Modified: May 6, 2025 by Veronica T

When & how to harvest asparagus

If you've never grown asparagus before, you might be confused on when you can harvest spears. As someone who's grown asparagus for years, I've had the same questions. I'm here to explain when and how to harvest - making this as simple as possible.

I've been growing asparagus for a long time and documented my latest test bed for my book on how to grow asparagus. I've included a bunch of that information here to help you get a good start - and the book includes even more information if you're interested.

Why can't you harvest asparagus the first year?

Every guide that explains how to grow asparagus repeats the same advice: do not harvest asparagus the first year you plant it. But why is that?

When asparagus crowns are transplanted, they need time to get established. The roots need to adjust to new soil and they need a lot of energy to grow.

That energy comes from the asparagus spears that are left unharvested. As they grow, they leaf out (aka "fern out"). That growth soaks up the sun and transfers the energy to the roots.

The roots desperately need that energy the first year. Taking it away dramatically weakens the plant (and future yields). Since asparagus plants will be around for decades to come, slow and steady wins the race.

Harvest timeline

Asparagus plants need extra energy to stay healthy, which comes from the spears leafing (ferning) out. While you can harvest after the first year, you have to do so slowly to make sure enough energy still reaches the roots.

Asparagus crowns need time to establish - the stronger they are, the heavier the yields. Weak plants produce less asparagus and limp spears that are skinnier than a pencil.

The timeline below assumes you are planting 1-year old crowns.

  • Year of planting (first summer): do not cut any spears
  • 2nd summer: harvest spears for up to 2 weeks
  • 3rd summer: harvest spears for 4 - 6 weeks
  • 4th year and beyond: harvest spears for 8-12 weeks

During harvest season, each crown shoots out a new spear that's ready to harvest in 2-4 days (depending on the weather and other growing conditions). If you haven't grown asparagus before, it's unreal to watch how quickly spears grow.

You can harvest the spears until they are pencil-thin. Once they reach that point, the plant is weakening and needs spears to fern out for energy collection.

How to harvest

You can harvest asparagus spears the second summer after you planted. Some people wait until the third year, but research shows harvesting for a short period in the second year actually increases yields in subsequent years.

Harvest while the tips are still tight and compact, before they fern out.

Asparagus that has started to fern out.

There are generally two methods to harvest asparagus spears:

  • Use a knife and cut the spear below the soil
  • Snap the spear off by hand, near ground level

Cutting below the soil

Many farmers use a knife and cut below the ground because the spears end up 20% longer. Since asparagus is sold by weight, this makes their harvest more profitable. In addition the University of Minnesota notes that, "the advantage to cutting spears below the soil is that the white, woody base restricts water loss, which preserves spear quality."

However, the portion of the spear that is below the dirt is usually very fibrous and tough - so it ends up getting trimmed off anyway. You'll know it when you see the white butt ends (they are white because the sunlight couldn't reach that part, so it wasn't able to turn green).

Snapping above the soil

The best way for most home gardeners to harvest asparagus is snap it off near the base. It should break before it hits any fibrous portion. The leftover stump will wither, and a new spear will grown from a bud underground.

The above-ground method is also better, because when using a knife below the soil, you might accidentally cut a bud or spear that has already started to grow, but isn't visible yet.

When to stop harvesting & post harvest care

At any point during your harvest season, stop cutting spears if they get pencil thin (smaller than ⅜") or growth slows considerably. This means the plant is running out of energy. At this point, harvest all spears, regardless of size and height.

Now is a good time to apply fertilizer, specifically nitrogen. Nitrogen helps plants produce leafy growth, which will help the asparagus plants 'fern out' nicely.

The ferns absorb energy from the sun and transfer it to the roots for storage over winter. This helps produce a good crop the following year.

How much you can expect to harvest

If you've already bought & planted crowns, congratulations! If not, see how much asparagus to plant per person first.

Most retailers sell crowns in packs of 25, which is enough for 1-2 people depending on how much you plan to eat in a season (and if you are preserving for future use).

Peak production

How much asparagus is that, you ask? During peak production (starting around year 7), you can expect:

  • ½ - ¾ pound per crown per season (about 10-15 spears over 8 weeks)
  • 25 crowns yields 12-18 pounds per season (spread out over 8 weeks)
  • That's about 2-3 pounds per week, for 8 weeks

A bundle of asparagus at the grocery store is about 1 pound and contains 15-20 spears.

Earlier production

Early years produce less while the plants get established. How much less? Based on data from several research trials at various universities, there appears to be a trend:

  • Year 2: (first time you can harvest), has minimal yields
  • Year 3: produces about 33% of peak (4-5 lbs per 25 crowns)
  • Year 4-5: production continues to increase to 45-55% of peak
  • Year 6: production is at about 66% of peak (8-10 lbs per 25 crowns)
  • Year 7-8: peak production is reached
  • Year 10 and later: production declines about 5% per year, according to farmers

Storage

Ideally, you harvest spears right before you use them. Once harvested, they very quickly convert their sugars to starch, losing flavor and that super fresh quality. This happens very quickly over the first 24 hours, and then at a slower rate after that.

Storing harvested spears in the fridge slows that sugar conversion, preserving freshness. Asparagus can also be canned (in a pressure cooker), and frozen.

Recipes & resources

If you're just starting out, you might want to know what to expect the first few years of growing asparagus - what does it look like, how can you harvest, can you cut the skinny spears? The book covers all of these topics, and more. My articles also cover quite a bit, but sometimes it's nice to have a guide to refer back to.

Want even MORE help? Get the book!
Grow asparagus right the first time. This book leaves no stone unturned, covering everything you need to know to plant and care for your asparagus. The advice is specific and tailored to home gardeners.
Check it out
A book cover: The ultimate Garden Guide for Asparagus
How to cook asparagus
  • Asparagus spears from 12 crowns in a jar of water
    How much asparagus to plant per person
  • Green asparagus spear growing in the garden
    How to grow asparagus for beginners (with pictures!)
  • Green and purple asparagus varieties
    The best asparagus varieties for your region
  • Chart showing how to grow asparagus in less space with high density garden bed layouts.
    How to grow asparagus in less space
  • Facebook

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About the Food Geek

Welcome, I'm Veronica, your resident food geek - experienced recipe developer and gardener. My goal is to help you enjoy eating at home by knowing what fruits & vegetables are currently in season and the best ways to use them. To do that, I've put together seasonal produce guides and recipes with practical advice.

More about me

Amish Paste tomato on a mulch background, weighs about 12 ounces. The best tomato for making paste.

Best tomatoes for making tomato paste

A book on growing asparagus in your home garden

Get my new book, on sale during spring planting season!


Popular recipes

  • Parmesan roasted asparagus, 425F in the oven for 8 minutes
    Parmesan roasted asparagus
  • A plate of blueberry cucumber salad with feta cheese and pistachios
    Blueberry cucumber salad with feta cheese
  • Roasted strawberries in their own sauce
    Roasted strawberries (for better flavor)
  • Eggs Benedict with asparagus, deli ham, and a fried over easy egg that was easy and quick to make. Set on a wood cutting board backdrop.
    Shortcut eggs Benedict with asparagus
See more Spring recipes →

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About me
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up for produce guides!

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.