Expert: Elyse Grau - 6/19/2009

Question
"Can I Grow Asparagus In 5 Gallon Buckets And If Not What Size If Possible Does
The Bucket Have To Be To Be Able To Successfully Grow Asparagus In A Bucket Or
Big, Big Pot! What Size Pot. Reason I'm Asking This Is Because I Bought Some
Asparagus Crowns Of New Jersey Giants And Mary Washington And About 9 Months Ago
And Put Them In 1 Gallon Pots Because I Am Going To Move From My House Within
The Next Year And That's Why I Didn't Plant Them In The Ground Because When I
Were To Dig Them Up I Didn't Want To Disturb The Root System Much Being That
They Don't Like Being Disturbed And Now The Root System In The 1 Gallon Pots Are
Pot Bound If That's The Correct Term. Thanks!"

Answer
Oscar:
Asparagus will not do well in containers. It needs room for the roots to grow horizontally. The mature ferns of the asparagus grow to 4-5 tall as well, which would require a large container to keep from toppling over. They might do OK in a 1/2 barrel, but you'd have a hard time moving that.

I think you would be better off just leaving them where they are until you move, or simply starting over at your new home.

Elyse