These asparagus harvesting tips will ensure you pick the best spears.

You might be eager to start harvesting asparagus as soon as it pops up from the soil in spring.

With the right techniques and timing, your plants will stay healthy and productive from year to year.

person harvesting asparagus in garden

Credit:Getty Images / dulezidar

So how long after planting do you have to wait until you get your first harvest?

Leave your asparagus plants alone the first year after planting so they can get established.

Getty Images / dulezidar

Ways to Harvest Asparagus

1.

Harvesting by Hand

The fastest and most efficient way to harvest asparagus is by hand.

When to Harvest Asparagus

1.

Wait for asparagus spears to reach the right height.

Only pick asparagus within its harvesting window.

During harvest seasonfrom late May to early June, you might harvest asparagus every two days.

The warmer temperatures become, the more spears youll see emerging from the soil.

Cold temperatures will slow the emergence of spears.

Watch your plants to determine how long to harvest.

Unharvested asparagus spears will develop into feathery foliage or ferns that can grow up to 6 feet tall.

Asparagus ferns produce energy so that the plant can grow healthy spears the next spring.