When and How to Transplant Asparagus

As a kid, I wasn’t a huge fan of asparagus, but now I can’t get enough of it.

The reason? There weren’t any asparagus farms nearby and none of my neighbors grew it in their gardens, so I’d never tasted it freshly picked.

Well, I moved and things have changed! Asparagus is kind of a big deal here in Ontario, a short drive north of New York.

This area is known for certain crops, and asparagus is one of them. In fact, local farms here produce most of the asparagus that lands on the plates of Canadians.

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The first year I lived in Ontario Zone 5, people started talking about asparagus in March, when the countdown to harvest usually begins. And by May, the whole province was buzzing with anticipation.

As an outsider, I was skeptical. I assumed it was an exaggeration blown out of proportion. Surely it couldn’t be as good as they all claimed! But once I tasted my first bite of farm-fresh spears, I was hooked. This healthy plant lives up to the hype, and if you’ve had it, you know what I’m talking about. Steamed, sauteed, grilled or baked – any way you cook it, it’s delicious! When asparagus is in season, it becomes less of a side attraction and more like the main show. I hold a deep respect for farmers, so I always support their work by purchasing directly from them when I can. But buying in large quantities can be expensive. Plus, learning to grow your own food is fun.

So, when a friend gifted me a tiny young crown, I gladly accepted it, brought it home, and without much foresight, I planted it in a corner of my garden near various herbs.

But later, I realized I should have planned a bit