When to Plant Asparagus in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Asparagus guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jun to Aug
- 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 Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant dormant crowns in winter in a well drained, weed free bed. Leave all spears in the first year, pick lightly in year two and fully from year three.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Asparagus in Cool Temperate 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
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Asparagus
Recommended Varieties
- Mary Washington
- Jersey Knight
- Jersey Giant
- Purple Passion
Key Challenges
- Late frosts can damage emerging spears
- Slower establishment in cold soils
Pro Tips
- Premium asparagus zone. Expect 15-20+ year productive beds
- Cover emerging spears with straw if late frost threatens
- Full 10-12 week harvest windows once established
Pests and problems for Asparagus in Cool Temperate
- 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 Melbourne?
Plant dormant crowns in winter in a well drained, weed free bed. Leave all spears in the first year, pick lightly in year two and fully from year three.
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 Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Mary Washington, Jersey Knight, Jersey Giant, Purple Passion.
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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.