Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Growing asparagus is deeply rewarding, whether you choose to sow seed or plant crowns.
From seed works very well, as you see here. Asparagus is one of the finest tastes in vegetables, and one of the most expensive – two good incentives to grow your own. It is easy to grow, but needs plenty of space; in fact rather more than is often recommended, especially as plants grow older.
In this video, I show you the full process of growing asparagus from seed in module trays, potting on young plants, and planting them out into the garden, alongside an honest comparison with planting bought crowns.
The difference between sowing seed and planting crowns is mostly in time to cropping. A year’s wait can be saved, but sowing your own is satisfying and should make for healthy plants. I share real examples of variable germination, how to deal with poor seed, and which varieties have performed best in my own garden.
From sowing in late winter, seedlings are potted on through spring and planted out in early summer.
Summer growth should, after about three years, resemble a mini-forest about 2m (6') high, dark enough underneath to prevent germination of too many weeds. Any that do appear must be removed before they seed, so that the soil becomes and stays clean, making the bed easier to maintain.
After about three years, plants should be cropping well. I also show what underperforming asparagus looks like, how soil type affects growth, and why some bought crowns fail to thrive even after several seasons. You’ll see why spacing, drainage, and long-term soil health matter so much.
In late autumn or winter, dying top growth can be cut off and composted, or left to rot on the surface if there are few weeds to hoe in springtime. The most difficult weed can be asparagus itself, from its own fertile berries that drop off or are excreted elsewhere by birds. All-male hybrids, such as Jersey Knight F1, mostly have no berries and tend to yield heavier spears.
We also look at seasonal care, harvesting timelines, autumn maintenance, and how asparagus fits into a whole-year garden cycle, including interplanting with crops such as spinach.
Have fun growing asparagus — it rewards patience with decades of harvests.
🎥 Filmed 14th February to September 2025
Filmed by Carly Dutton-Edwards
In Homeacres No Dig Garden, Somerset, UK
🎵 Music: Rory Dunwoodie, @rorydinwoodiemusic IG: rorydinwoodiemusic
You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support our work with helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members:
youtube.com/channel/UCB1J6siDdmhwah7q0O2WJBg/join
#growyourownfood #asparagus #nodiggardening #vegetablegardening #growyourown #nodig
00:00 Introduction - sowing seeds in module trays
01:38 Potting on
02:24 Warmth needed for germination
03:19 Four weeks later - failed germination
05:43 Results of re-sowing - four varieties
06:54 Potting on
08:43 23rd May - now developed into ferns, options for planting times
09:37 Growth difference between varieties
10:17 Removing four-year-old crowns from ground
14:31 Creating a ridge for planting
15:04 Mary Washington variety, planted last summer
16:05 Planting new plants, spacing
17:16 Comparison of growth of crowns, different varieties
19:19 Plants in autumn
20:06 Berries on the plants
21:44 Interplants of spinach - Medania variety
23:24 Cutting the plants
Growing asparagus is deeply rewarding, whether you choose to sow seed or plant crowns.
From seed works very well, as you see here. Asparagus is one of the finest tastes in vegetables, and one of the most expensive – two good incentives to grow your own. It is easy to grow, but needs plenty of space; in fact rather more than is often recommended, especially as plants grow older.
In this video, I show you the full process of growing asparagus from seed in module trays, potting on young plants, and planting them out into the garden, alongside an honest comparison with planting bought crowns.
The difference between sowing seed and planting crowns is mostly in time to cropping. A year’s wait can be saved, but sowing your own is satisfying and should make for healthy plants. I share real examples of variable germination, how to deal with poor seed, and which varieties have performed best in my own garden.
From sowing in late winter, seedlings are potted on through spring and planted out in early summer.
Summer growth should, after about three years, resemble a mini-forest about 2m (6') high, dark enough underneath to prevent germination of too many weeds. Any that do appear must be removed before they seed, so that the soil becomes and stays clean, making the bed easier to maintain.
After about three years, plants should be cropping well. I also show what underperforming asparagus looks like, how soil type affects growth, and why some bought crowns fail to thrive even after several seasons. You’ll see why spacing, drainage, and long-term soil health matter so much.
In late autumn or winter, dying top growth can be cut off and composted, or left to rot on the surface if there are few weeds to hoe in springtime. The most difficult weed can be asparagus itself, from its own fertile berries that drop off or are excreted elsewhere by birds. All-male hybrids, such as Jersey Knight F1, mostly have no berries and tend to yield heavier spears.
We also look at seasonal care, harvesting timelines, autumn maintenance, and how asparagus fits into a whole-year garden cycle, including interplanting with crops such as spinach.
Have fun growing asparagus — it rewards patience with decades of harvests.
🎥 Filmed 14th February to September 2025
Filmed by Carly Dutton-Edwards
In Homeacres No Dig Garden, Somerset, UK
🎵 Music: Rory Dunwoodie, @rorydinwoodiemusic IG: rorydinwoodiemusic
You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support our work with helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members:
youtube.com/channel/UCB1J6siDdmhwah7q0O2WJBg/join
#growyourownfood #asparagus #nodiggardening #vegetablegardening #growyourown #nodig
00:00 Introduction - sowing seeds in module trays
01:38 Potting on
02:24 Warmth needed for germination
03:19 Four weeks later - failed germination
05:43 Results of re-sowing - four varieties
06:54 Potting on
08:43 23rd May - now developed into ferns, options for planting times
09:37 Growth difference between varieties
10:17 Removing four-year-old crowns from ground
14:31 Creating a ridge for planting
15:04 Mary Washington variety, planted last summer
16:05 Planting new plants, spacing
17:16 Comparison of growth of crowns, different varieties
19:19 Plants in autumn
20:06 Berries on the plants
21:44 Interplants of spinach - Medania variety
23:24 Cutting the plants
