When to Plant Asparagus in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Asparagus guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jul to Sep
- Days to harvest
- about 104 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.5
Asparagus is a long-lived perennial that takes 2-3 years to establish but then produces harvests for 15-20 years or more. It requires patience upfront but rewards with decades of spring spears.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant dormant crowns in late winter and do not cut spears for the first two years, then only a light pick in the third. Cold winters suit asparagus well, and established beds crop for 8 to 10 weeks each spring.
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How to Grow Asparagus in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Deep, well-drained sandy loam enriched with aged compost and manure. Heavy clay must be improved with gypsum and organic matter, or use raised beds.
- Salt
- Tolerant. One of the better picks if your water or soil is on the salty side.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours daily)
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 120cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep watering weekly during growing season. Reduce in winter dormancy. Asparagus has deep roots (1-2m) so infrequent deep watering is better than frequent shallow watering. Drip irrigation ideal.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Lettuce, Tomato, Basil, Marigold
- Keep away from
- Garlic, Onion, Potato, Tree Onion
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Asparagus
Recommended Varieties
- Mary Washington
- Jersey Knight
- Jersey Giant
Key Challenges
- Short growing season for fern growth post-harvest
- Late spring frosts damage spears
- Snow and heavy frost can delay emergence
Pro Tips
- Excellent dormancy chilling but shorter fern growth season
- South-facing slopes (north-facing in northern hemisphere) warm fastest
- Black plastic mulch in early spring warms soil and accelerates emergence
Pests and problems for Asparagus in Cold / Highland
- Common Garden Snail Watch
- Rust Plant rust-resistant varieties (Mary Washington, UC157). Ensure good air circulation with adequate spacing. Remove all fern debris in... Watch
- Slugs Watch
- Aphids Watch
- Fusarium Crown and Root Rot Site selection is critical, ensure excellent drainage. Maintain soil pH at 6.5-7.5 (Fusarium thrives in acidic soil). Plant disease-free... Watch
Harvesting Asparagus
When ready: Spears 15-20cm tall with tight, compact tips. Harvest before tips begin to open or 'fern out'. Thickness of a pencil or larger.
How to harvest: Snap spears at soil level by bending gently. They break at the natural weak point. Alternatively, cut with a sharp knife 2cm below soil surface. Harvest every 1-2 days during peak season.
Storing and preserving asparagus
How to keep it
- Freezing (blanched). Wash, trim woody ends. Blanch thin spears 2 minutes, thick spears 4 minutes. Ice bath immediately. Dry thoroughly, lay on tray to freeze individually, then bag. Frozen asparagus is best used in soups, risotto, and stir-fries rather than as a standalone side. Keeps: 8-12 months.
- Dehydrating. Blanch 3 minutes, slice into 2cm pieces. Dehydrate at 55C for 6-8 hours until brittle. Rehydrate in soups and casseroles. Keeps: 12 months.
- Pickling. Trim spears to fit jars. Blanch 1 minute. Pack upright in sterilised jars. Pour over hot brine (2 cups white vinegar, 2 cups water, 2 tbsp salt, garlic, dill). Process in water bath 10 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
Canning safety. Low-acid vegetables like asparagus must be pressure canned, never water-bath canned.
What asparagus costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Asparagus
When do you plant asparagus in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jul to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jul to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Asparagus in Canberra?
Plant dormant crowns in late winter and do not cut spears for the first two years, then only a light pick in the third. Cold winters suit asparagus well, and established beds crop for 8 to 10 weeks each spring.
What soil temperature do Asparagus need?
Asparagus germinate best when soil temperature is between 16°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Asparagus are ready to harvest?
Spears 15-20cm tall with tight, compact tips. Harvest before tips begin to open or 'fern out'. Thickness of a pencil or larger.
What are the best Asparagus varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Mary Washington, Jersey Knight, Jersey Giant.
What grows well with Asparagus?
Good companion plants for Asparagus include: Nasturtium, Lettuce, Tomato, Basil, Marigold.
Are asparagus salt tolerant?
Yes. Asparagus are salt-tolerant, one of the better picks if your water or soil is on the salty side.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.