How many spears does one plant yield?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.The productivity of asparagus per plant is influenced by age, climate, and variety. Established plants (3+ years) in cool-growing regions (like Michigan) produce 8-12 spears per year, and warmer-growing regions (like California) yield 15-20 spears per year. My garden, which is in Zone 6, averages 14 spears per hybrid plant. My heirloom bed produces only half as many spears as my hybrid bed.
Climate Impact
- 60-75°F daytime temps maximize photosynthesis
- Winter chill hours (500+ below 40°F) improve dormancy
- Avoid planting in frost pockets
Variety Selection
- Jersey Giant yields 30% more than heirlooms
- Purple Passion thrives in Zones 7-9
- Avoid female plants (energy wasted on berries)
Double your yields by planting male hybrid crowns 18 inches apart. My 10-year-old Jersey Knights produce 22 spears each spring; their roots extend 6 feet wide. Don't plant them too densely in the planting hole; I once intentionally planted them 12 inches apart and by Year 4, I had 40% less spear production.
Soil Care
- Test pH yearly (ideal: 6.5-7.0)
- Add 2" compost each spring
- Avoid nitrogen-heavy fertilizers
Pest Control
- Apply neem oil at beetle emergence
- Remove fern debris to disrupt larvae
- Use row covers during beetle flights
Be strategic with your harvest. Once your spears reach 6 to 8 inches tall, any taller will toughen. What I recommend is a harvest starting at sunrise. Spears cut before 9 AM are sweeter than those cut later. I will also stop digging the day the 25% of the new shoots appear pencil-thin. A sign this is happening would be that the root energy is depleted. Store the spears upright in a humidity chamber at 34°F.
Read the full article: How to Grow Asparagus: Expert Tips for Perennial Success
