When to plant asparagus
Direct-sow asparagus 3 weeks before your last spring frost.. Enter your ZIP below for exact dates.
The rule
Plant crowns about 3–4 weeks before the average last frost. [src]Cited: Johnny's Selected Seeds — Asparagus Key Growing Information
Method: Direct-sow in the garden. Frost tolerance: frost-hardy (derived from the planting timing above).
Asparagus is frost-hardy; it's grown as a spring/summer crop.
Asparagus planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Direct-sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10a | — | December 15 – December 29 | — |
| Zone 10b | — | December 20 – January 3 | — |
| Zone 2a | — | April 16 – April 30 | — |
| Zone 2b | — | April 24 – May 8 | — |
| Zone 3b | — | April 19 – May 3 | — |
| Zone 4a | — | April 13 – April 27 | — |
| Zone 4b | — | April 9 – April 23 | — |
| Zone 5a | — | April 11 – April 25 | — |
| Zone 5b | — | April 3 – April 17 | — |
| Zone 6a | — | March 30 – April 13 | — |
| Zone 6b | — | March 23 – April 6 | — |
| Zone 7a | — | March 15 – March 29 | — |
| Zone 7b | — | March 6 – March 20 | — |
| Zone 8a | — | February 23 – March 9 | — |
| Zone 8b | — | February 13 – February 27 | — |
| Zone 9a | — | January 30 – February 13 | — |
| Zone 9b | — | January 2 – January 16 | — |
What you'll need
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Last verified 2026-07-17. Sources: Johnny's Selected Seeds — Asparagus Key Growing Information; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.