Is first-year asparagus harvest safe?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Harvesting asparagus from year-old crowns can risk seriously damaging young plants. New asparagus crowns will preferentially devote energy to developing the root system rather than developing and producing asparagus spears. I made the mistake of harvesting 5 spears from a year 1 plant, and that plant never fully recovered, eventually producing asparagus spears over 40% less by year 4. Be patient!
Critical First-Year Tasks
- Allow 700+ hours of fern photosynthesis
- Water 1.5" weekly to grow 5-6 ft ferns
- Apply balanced fertilizer every 6 weeks
Recovery Techniques
- If accidentally harvested, apply seaweed extract
- Mulch with 4" compost to boost root growth
- Delay Year 2 harvest by 1 month
The leaves of ferns function like solar panels in that they generate crown energy reserves during the day using sunlight. Each hour of fern growth during the first year contributes to the yield of Years 3-20. In cooler climates, passive solar energy can be extended by the use of row covers during the fern phase; my Minnesota beds were able to gain an extra 200 hours worth of fern growth using row covers.
Winter Prep
- Cut ferns after first hard frost
- Apply 6" straw mulch over crowns
- Test soil pH (ideal: 6.5-7.0)
Fight the temptation to "just sample" those early spears. My neighbor had a 10-year asparagus bed and harvested 12 spears in Year 1--and their bed failed! As a reminder, asparagus spends 3 years invested before you can enjoy 15+ years of abundant regrowth of sweet spears.
Read the full article: How to Grow Asparagus: Expert Tips for Perennial Success
