When to Plant Asparagus in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow September to November. Right now in September you can sow.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

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.

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. Male crowns are more productive than female plants as they don't waste energy on berry production. One of the most rewarding investments in any Australian home garden.

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - D D D -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Asparagus sowing time in Canberra?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Asparagus included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 11.2°C (optimal range: 16–30°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Asparagus in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Plant crowns September-November after soil warms above 10C. Late planting window due to cold soils.

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.
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.

Companion plants: Tomato, Basil, Parsley, Marigold, Nasturtium

Avoid planting near: Onion, Garlic, Potato

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

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.

Common Asparagus Pests in Cold / Highland Zones

Fungal Spots, risk: LOW (score: 27/100)

Organic prevention: Clean up all fern debris in winter to remove overwintering sites. Harvest spears promptly. Beetles prefer laying eggs on mature ferns, not emerging spears. Encourage biodiversity with flowering compan

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What asparagus costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this September: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your asparagus: Rust (various).

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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:

Does asparagus grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Sep to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.