When to plant

• Set out crowns about 4 weeks before your average last spring frost.

Eat stalks only; leaves are toxic. Struggles in zone 8+.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Enter your ZIP code to get exact dates.

Dates by zone: 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

Growing basics

Toxic parts. Leaves are poisonous. Eat the stalks only.

Harmful to pets. The leaves are toxic to cats and dogs.

Sun

Part sun (4–6 hours)

Spacing

36 in

Soil temperature

At least 40°F

Plant family

Other

Harvest per plant

About 3 lb

Companions

Keep apart: Horseradish. Horseradish spreads aggressively. Give it its own spot.

Keep apart: Mint. Mint spreads aggressively into neighbors. Keep it in a pot.

Keep apart: Fennel (bulb). Fennel slows the growth of most garden plants. Grow it on its own.

Keep apart: Sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke). Sunchokes spread aggressively and shade neighbors.

Grow it well

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