We planted asparagus in our raised bed garden, without doing any research on the veggie at all. I'm now reading that it won't produce viable fruit until 2-3 years after planting. My question is this: At what point does it turn from the frilly little plant I have now to something recognizable as the veggie I buy in the store?

Answer #1 · Brent Wilson's Answer · If you purchased one-year old plants, do not harvest the asparagus during the planting year. Spears will be produced from expanded buds on the crown. As the spears elongate and reach a height of about 8 to 9 inches, the tips will open. The spear will become woody to support the small branchlets that become ferns. The ferns produce food for the plant and then move it down to the crown for next year's spear production. Contrary to what some folks say, the year after planting, asparagus can be harvested several times throughout a three-week period, depending on air temperatures. Research shows there is no need to wait two years after planting before harvesting. In fact, harvesting the year after planting will stimulate more bud production on the crown and provide greater yields in future years, as compared with waiting two years before harvesting. When it comes to harvesting, harvest asparagus by snapping 7 to 9 inch spears with tight tips. There is no need to cut asparagus below the soil with a knife. This may injure other buds on the crown that will send up new spears. The small stub that is left in the soil after snapping, dries up and disintegrates. A new spear does not come up at the same spot, but comes up from another bud that enlarges on another part of the crown.

One of the best things about asparagus is it's a long-lived perennial you don't have to replant every year. Also, recently I read somewhere that asparagus is good for hangovers, because it helps to detoxify the liver, or something like that. Folks who drink can eat it before or after to reduce the effects of a hangover. So, even if you're like me and don't drink much alcohol at all, it might just have some good health benefits. Either way, I love asparagus...probably my favorite veggie, with okra coming in a close second:-))

Answer #2 · Troy Meyers's Answer · I read through the answers and the asker asks a couple of times when it will come up as recognizable asparagus and that right now it looks like a fern. I just wanted it to be clear, it gets to looking like a fern AFTER the asparagus spear has grown up. If you are harvesting to eat, you harvest the asparagus spear before it gets to looking like a fern....when the tip of the asparagus is still tight and has not opened into the fern structure)