How do I start an asparagus bed, from seed or crowns?

Asparagus can be started from seed raised into seedlings, or from one-year-old crowns planted in trenches. Crowns give a faster start to harvest but cost more and can be hard to source reliably in India, while seed is cheaper but adds a year. Either way you plant into a well-prepared, well-drained bed and you must let the plant build strength before cutting spears, which is why the first proper harvest is delayed by a couple of years. Source seed or crowns from a reputable supplier and keep records. Talk to your KVK and any local grower about what planting material is actually available near you.