Asparagus growing. Photo by twoellis/Bigstock.com Print Image. Growing Skip to Growing. Asparagus is one of the few perennial vegetables we can grow in North Carolina. Once established, an asparagus bed can produce for many years. When and Where to Plant Plant asparagus in winter, between mid-January and mid-March, while the plants are dormant. White asparagus is the same plant as green asparagus, however, it is blanched by preventing the spears from being exposed to light and therefore not allowed to photosynthesize. This is accomplished by covering the growing spears with either soil or plastic tunnels.
The common name asparagus fern refers to Protasparagus densiflorus and Protasparagus setaceus, two species of perennial plants grown for their arching, plumy fronds. Both species thrive within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 12, where they grow in containers or garden beds with equal vigor.
Many asparagus ferns develop a lank, shabby appearance with age and must be divided to encourage the production of fuller foliage. The process of dividing and transplanting asparagus ferns from their roots is very simple and highly effective, although it works best when done in autumn as the plant enters dormancy.