When to Stop Harvesting Asparagus

Q. We've had a nice asparagus season and now my wife and I are in our annual discussion about when to stop harvesting the spears.

Asparagus can be harvested by snapping the spears which leaves the broken ends above ground.

A. Asparagus season here usually lasts about 6 to 8 weeks in early spring but if the spears are bigger around than your pinky finger, then go ahead and harvest these larger ones. But not the little ones. Let them grow to their full height to rebuild the harvest for next year.

Asparagus spears begin to fern out if allowed to grow

            When asparagus harvest is over, the spears are allowed to “fern” and grow to their full height, about five and a half feet tall. These mature ferns are green and rebuild the roots or crown for the next spring harvest. These mature ferns are cut and removed when the New Year begins and before the early spring harvest.