When to start seed

You don't mention where you're located, but have you looked at our Garden Planting Calendar? The link is in the "Goodies" section in the blue bar over on the left side of the page.

Asparagus seed can be wintersown (see Trudi Davidoff's wintersown.org) at any time after winter solstice.

Also did you know that it takes a few years for an asparagus patch to start producing? If you start from seed, you will be at least a year, (maybe two) longer before you get any spears big enough to eat. Look at garden centers, or buy starts online and you will be happier, sooner.

Typically, when growing asparagus, you won't harvest any spears the first year, only a few (early) spears the second year, and will be able to harvest plenty of spears the third year. You want those early years to produce as much vegetation as possible, since that is where those third-year spears will gain their energy from. Those spears will grow long stems with lots of lacey leaves those first and second years. If you harvested the spears for eating, you would take them when they are a foot long (or less), and they would not have a chance to produce leaves. By the third year there will be enough roots/vegetation growth to sustain those plants even with fairly heavy harvesting of spears. You should still leave those thin spears to grow long though and only harvest those spears that are approximately the diameter of your little finger.

FWIW year two, or year three, the first couple spears from your newish asparagus will look pleasing and even a bit fat.

You will only be able to pick a few and new spears will come up much scrawny-ier. Stop then and there. That next year will help the corm build up size and sugars for a much more productive 'next' year.

As always manure and mulch your asparagus every fall, forever.