root · transplant · advanced
Asparagus: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating asparagus a few times a week needs about 45 plants in ~270 sq ft, worth about $45 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 12 | ~72 sq ft | ~15 | ~$12 |
| 2 people | 23 | ~138 sq ft | ~28 | ~$23 |
| 4 people | 45 | ~270 sq ft | ~53 | ~$45 |
| 6 people | 67 | ~402 sq ft | ~79 | ~$67 |
Spacing
18" in row · 48" between rows
Sow depth
6"
Days to harvest
60 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 24 – May 29 | — |
| Zone 4 | Apr 19 – May 24 | — |
| Zone 5 | Apr 9 – May 14 | — |
| Zone 6 | Mar 30 – May 4 | — |
| Zone 7 | Mar 15 – Apr 19 | — |
| Zone 8 | Mar 4 – Apr 8 | — |
| Zone 9 | Jan 30 – Mar 6 | — |
| Zone 10 | Jan 10 – Feb 14 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Spears 6 to 9 inches with tight tips, snap at ground level. Pick daily in spring; stop when spears thin to pencil size.
Don't wait: Once the tip ferns open the spear is woody. And stop cutting by early summer so the bed recharges.
Yield
About 0.5 lbs per plant over ~6 productive weeks (~0.5 lb).
Neighbors
Plays well with tomato, parsley, basil. Keep away from onion, garlic.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
20 kcal · 2.1 g fiber · 5.6 mg vitamin C · 202 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Asparagus planting questions
How many asparagus plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 12 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 45 plants, which takes around 270 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does asparagus need?+
Space plants 18" apart in the row with 48" between rows. Sow 6" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant asparagus?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing asparagus worth it?+
At about $2.00/lb retail and ~0.5 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $45 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.