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Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.

Comparing Pole Bean vs. Asparagus vs. Artichoke

The comparison

Pole Bean vs. Asparagus vs. Artichoke

Units
Growing facts for Pole Bean, Asparagus and Artichoke, side by side
Fact
Pole BeanPhaseolus vulgaris
AsparagusAsparagus officinalis
ArtichokeCynara cardunculus var. scolymus
DifficultyEasyModerateChallenging
Life cycleAnnualPerennialNot yet verified
Germination time7–10 daysNot yet verified8–12 days
Germination temperature18–29 °C64–84 °F18–27 °C64–81 °F21–26 °C70–79 °F
Sowing depthNot yet verified1.5–2 cm½–¾ in6 mm¼ in
Spacing between plants10–15 cm4–6 in30–46 cm12–18 in46 cm18 in
Days to maturity60–110 days from sowingNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
SunFull sunFull sunFull sun
WaterModerateNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
Frost toleranceTender (no frost)HardyNot yet verified
Soil pHNot yet verifiedpH 6.0–8.0pH 6.5–8.0
Links
How to grow pole beanRemove pole bean
How to grow asparagusRemove asparagus
How to grow artichokeRemove artichoke

Up close

Meet the seeds

What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.

  • Pole bean plant climbing up vertical twine strings with green leaves in a gardenVegetables

    Pole Bean

    Phaseolus vulgaris

    Difficulty: Easy

    Pole beans are climbing annual beans that grow in full sun and need a trellis or poles. Sow after the danger of frost has passed, and keep the soil evenly moist.

    How to grow pole bean
  • Rows of asparagus ferns growing in a field beside a dirt pathVegetables

    Asparagus

    Asparagus officinalis

    Difficulty: Moderate

    Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable that most gardeners start from crowns. Growing it from seed adds a year or more before the first harvest, and the plant needs full sun.

    How to grow asparagus
  • Globe artichoke buds growing on tall plants in a sunlit garden bedVegetables

    Artichoke

    Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus

    Difficulty: Challenging

    Globe artichokes are large, thistle-like plants grown for their edible flower buds. They need full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Seed results are variable, so many growers start with plants or divisions.

    How to grow artichoke

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The table, row by row

How to read a comparison

Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.

  1. Sprouting

    Germination time and temperature

    How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.

  2. Sowing

    Sowing depth and spacing

    How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.

  3. Timing

    Days to maturity and life cycle

    How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.

  4. Light and water

    Sun and water

    Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.

  5. Space and weather

    Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH

    Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.

  6. Pets

    Toxicity to cats and dogs

    Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.

Quick wins

Fastest to sprout

Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.

Pet friendly

Safe around cats and dogs

Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.

Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.

Comparing

Questions about comparing

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Where do the facts come from?
From each seed's profile. Every fact there is researched and reviewed by our editors before it goes live.
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