April is the month when asparagus gets its groove back.
After resting underground all winter, those tasty spears are ready to pop up and grow.
But they can’t do it alone.
Asparagus needs the right care in early spring to get a strong, healthy start.
When you help it early, you set the stage for a harvest that keeps giving for years.
Yes, years.
Asparagus is a long-term plant.
Once it’s happy, it’ll keep producing for up to 20 years or more.
So, think of April as the foundation month.
Everything you do now matters for this season—and for many seasons to come.
Clear the Bed: Out With the Old
The first step to helping your asparagus in April is cleanup.
If you didn’t cut back the ferns last fall, now’s the time.
Old, dried stalks can trap pests and disease.
They also block sunlight from warming the soil.
So grab your clippers and cut down the old growth to ground level.
Clear out any dead leaves, weeds, or mulch that’s turned soggy and moldy.
Asparagus likes a clean stage to perform.
Removing last year’s leftovers also gives you a chance to inspect the bed.
You can check the soil, look for signs of pests, and plan your next steps.
A tidy asparagus bed is a healthy one.
Test the Soil Before You Dig In
Asparagus is picky about its soil.
It loves loose, sandy, well-draining ground with just the right nutrients.
April is a great time to test your soil so you know what you’re working with.
You can buy a basic soil test kit at your garden center or online.
You’ll want to know your soil’s pH, nutrient levels, and how much organic matter it has.
Asparagus grows best in slightly alkaline soil—somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 on the pH scale.
If your soil is too acidic, you can add lime to raise the pH.
If it’s low in nutrients, compost or aged manure can boost it up.
Knowing what your soil needs now helps avoid problems later.
It also gives your asparagus exactly what it wants to thrive.
Warm Up the Soil for an Early Start
Asparagus crowns won’t grow well in cold, soggy soil.
If you live in a cooler area, your soil might still be chilly in early April.
You can give your bed a boost by helping it warm up faster.
One easy trick is to lay down black plastic or a dark tarp over the soil for a week or two.
This traps heat and helps the soil reach the ideal temperature—about 50°F or higher.
Once it’s warm enough, your spears will start popping up.
And once they start, they grow fast—sometimes several inches in a day.
A little warmth now can jumpstart your harvest.
Plant New Crowns the Right Way
If you’re just starting your asparagus patch, April is the perfect time to plant new crowns.
Crowns are the root systems of one-year-old asparagus plants.
You can find them at garden centers or order them online.
When you plant them right, they’ll settle in and grow strong for decades.
Start by digging a trench about 12 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep.
Space each crown about 12 to 18 inches apart.
Make a little mound of soil in the center of the trench and spread the crown’s roots over it like a spider.
Cover with 2 to 3 inches of soil and water gently.
As the spears start to grow, you’ll add more soil bit by bit until the trench is full.
This method helps build strong roots and sturdy plants.
It takes patience—but asparagus is a long game, and it’s worth the wait.
Feed the Soil, Not Just the Spears
Asparagus is a heavy feeder.
It pulls a lot of energy from the soil each year.
So if you want healthy spears, you’ve got to feed the soil well in April.
Start with a layer of compost or aged manure spread around your asparagus bed.
This adds nutrients and improves the soil texture.
Next, you can use a balanced fertilizer—something like 10-10-10 or 5-10-10 works well.
Sprinkle it lightly along the rows and water it in.
Avoid fertilizers high in nitrogen only.
Too much nitrogen makes big leafy ferns, but fewer spears.
You want to feed the roots in a way that encourages strong spear production.
Think of it as preparing a feast for your plants.
The better they eat, the better you’ll eat.
Keep the Weeds Away Early
Asparagus does not like competition.
Weeds steal water, nutrients, and sunlight—three things asparagus needs to grow.
In April, when the spears are just starting, weeds can sneak in quickly.
So don’t let them.
Start the season with a weed-free bed.
Hand-pull any weeds you see, and do it often.
Avoid using a hoe or anything sharp around the crowns.
You don’t want to accidentally slice through a growing spear.
Once the bed is clean, lay down a light mulch like straw or shredded leaves.
This helps smother weed seeds and keep the soil moist.
Staying on top of weeds now saves you a lot of trouble later.
Watering Wisely: Not Too Much, Not Too Little
Water is important in April, especially when spears start to emerge.
But too much water can rot the crowns, and too little will slow growth.
So how much is just right?
Aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, including rain.
Check the soil by sticking your finger in about two inches.
If it feels dry, it’s time to water.
Water deeply and slowly so the moisture reaches the roots.
A soaker hose works great for this.
Avoid watering the tops of the spears—wet foliage can invite disease.
Think of watering like filling a sponge.
You want the soil moist, not soaked.
Don’t Harvest Too Soon
If your asparagus bed is brand new, don’t pick any spears the first year.
Let the plant grow and put all its energy into the roots.
The second year, you can harvest for a couple of weeks.
By the third year, you can go all in—usually for six to eight weeks.
In April, it’s tempting to start picking as soon as you see those green tips.
But patience pays off.
If your plants are mature enough, pick the spears when they’re 6 to 8 inches tall and about as thick as your finger.
Use a sharp knife or snap them off at the base.
Harvest in the morning for best flavor.
Then, keep checking daily—they grow fast this time of year.
Watch for Pests and Sneaky Invaders
April is when the bugs come back, and they love young asparagus.
The most common pest is the asparagus beetle.
It’s small, with a blue-black body and reddish-orange spots.
The adults and their larvae chew on spears and lay eggs on the tips.
You might also see slugs or cutworms hanging around in damp areas.
Check your plants every few days.
If you spot beetles, handpick them and drop them in a jar of soapy water.
You can also try neem oil or insecticidal soap—just don’t spray during the heat of the day.
Keeping pests in check now prevents bigger problems later.
Mulch for Moisture and Protection
Once your asparagus spears are up and growing, mulch becomes even more important.
It helps hold in moisture, blocks weeds, and keeps the soil cool on hot days.
Use clean straw, shredded leaves, or pine needles.
Avoid mulches that stay too wet or clump together—these can cause rot.
Spread a two to three-inch layer around the plants, leaving a little space at the base of each spear.
The mulch breaks down over time, adding organic matter to your soil.
It’s a simple step, but one that keeps your asparagus bed healthy and productive.
Let the Ferns Grow When the Harvest Ends
As the season moves into late spring and early summer, you’ll eventually stop harvesting.
This usually happens in May or June, depending on your region.
When you stop picking, let the remaining spears grow into tall, feathery ferns.
These ferns are not just pretty—they’re essential.
They collect energy from the sun and send it back to the roots for next year’s harvest.
Don’t cut them down early.
Let them grow all summer and fall.
Only remove them after they turn brown and die back in late fall or early winter.
This is part of the asparagus life cycle, and it’s key to long-term success.
Keep Records to Improve Every Year
Want to get better at growing asparagus?
Start a garden journal.
Write down when your spears first appeared, how fast they grew, and what you did to care for them.
Record your watering schedule, fertilizer type, and how you handled pests.
Next year, you’ll have a clear guide to what worked and what didn’t.
Gardening is part science, part memory.
Taking notes helps you get better with every season.
And seeing your progress written down is incredibly rewarding.
Final Thoughts
April is a make-or-break month for asparagus.
Whether you’re planting new crowns or waking up an old bed, this is the time to give your plants the best start possible.
Clean up the area, feed the soil, test your pH, and keep the weeds away.
Make sure your plants get just the right amount of water and warmth.
Don’t rush the harvest—let young plants build strength first.
If your bed is mature, pick carefully and often.
Watch for bugs, mulch wisely, and always let the ferns grow when the picking is done.
Everything you do in April sets the stage for the season ahead—and many seasons after that.
With the right care, asparagus is one of the most rewarding crops you can grow.
It takes patience and effort in the beginning.
But once it’s happy, it keeps giving year after year.
So dig in, take your time, and let your asparagus know it’s got a good gardener on its side.