[Browseruk]

My local GC has asparagus roots/shoots/whatever they are called bagged with a little compost.

Are these the only way or can you start with seed?

I read that asparagus does't crop for the first year (at least); is that true for these roots/shoots/whatever?

[Hampshire Hog]

This is the normal way to create an asparagus bed, whilst it is possible to use seeds that would take even longer. If you plant the asparagus “crowns” it will take 2 or 3 years to start to get reasonable sized asparagus spears to eat. However once you have an established bed it will crop for up to 20 years. I have a bed I planted around 10 years ago which is still providing me with a good crop every year.

[Nobbie]

I’ve grown all my asparagus from seed and grown on in pots for the first year before planting out into the final positions the following spring. I suspect you only lose a year by using seed as bare rooted crowns must suffer quite a setback before getting established, whereas pot grown ones suffer little disturbance. Well worth the effort. Looking forward to mine.