Always plant this perennial in a permanent location, preferably on the north side of the garden since it grows 3 to 4 feet tall.
Most gardening books tell you to grow asparagus from roots planted deeply in well-built trenches. However, growers developed the trench method for mechanical cultivation, and it is not necessary for the home gardener. You still must spread asparagus roots well when you plant them, but a hole or small trench will suffice. Plant the roots 6 inches deep. Expect a partial harvest in two years.
Planting from seeds has an advantage: even though you have to wait a couple more years for the first yield, it is less labor-intensive. As with roots, plant the seeds in a permanent bed, then thin until the plants are 10 inches apart. You can expect a partial harvest in your third year and a full harvest in the fourth.