What indicates asparagus is ready to harvest?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Knowing when to harvest perfect asparagus results in soft, delicious spears & ensuring the health of your plants. There are some physical and tactile triggers that let you know it's time to harvest! You many consider the following when deciding when the best time to harvest: Harvest should occur when spears are 6-8 inches tall with tight, compact tips. Diameter is best if bigger than a pencil. You can confirm the peak freshness by using the snap test.
Visual Signs
- Uniform rich green or purple color depending on variety
- Tight compact spear tips without loosening
- Straight stems without curvature or twisting
- Bright white base transitioning smoothly to green
Tactile Tests
- Firm texture when gently squeezed
- Snaps cleanly when bent near the base
- Resists bending before the snapping point
- Smooth skin without wrinkles or ridges
Growth Measurements
- Minimum 6-inch height for early varieties
- Ideal 8-inch height for maximum flavor
- Diameter exceeding standard pencil thickness
- Daily growth rate of 1-2 inches in spring
For guaranteed freshness, do the snap test properly. Gently bend the spear in half, being careful to hold it near the soil line. Nice, ready spears will break cleanly at their tender point, where their natural breaking happens. This separates the edible parts from the woody parts. Tough lower stems will leave fragility behind after the snap test.
Timely harvesting for best flavor and tenderness. Harvest spears in the early morning when sugar levels are at their peak. Use a sharp knife to avoid damaging the crowns of the plants. Cut the spears about 1 inch below the soil surface. Harvest every other day during peak season to prevent over-mature spears.
Be mindful of different varieties. Purple varieties announce readiness through intense color saturation. White asparagus, on the other hand, spends its entire life cycle underground, so it must be carefully inspected below the mound. Heirloom varieties may also reveal specific size indicators of readiness. Be familiar with the unique attributes of each variety.
Identify overmature spears to prevent harvesting. Tips will start to grow as fern-like structures. Stems become hard, stiff, and fibrous. Color will fade from bright to dull. These spears are storing energy in the crown as they continue to grow. Your selectivity means that you will have decades of Harvest quality.
Read the full article: How to Grow Asparagus from Crowns Successfully
