What's the secret to growing asparagus?

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-plant-and-grow-asparagas-1402814

Are you planting to deep? Could a critter be eating the starts?

Auntie & Uncle told me how...just like celery...start with a trench, plant the plants in the bottom...as they start growing skyward, cover al except the very tip...continue to do so until they get the height you want. unbury & enjoy!

Once you get asparagus and it leafs out(looks like a fern) do not cut off the fronds....leave them alone till frost and they die off....otherwise the roots will die.

we used 6 12 12 fertilizer, but if you will take sample of the soil from the plot you are going to grow them in the agriculture extention office will give you the box for the samples every county has them, they are free and they will give you the results from the samples. we always keep our beds covered in mulch, we found the red works best because it keeps the color. we covered them with the mulch as deep as we needed to, it just takes longer for the roots to surface. we planted Jersey Gaints, and boy are they big and juicy. here is the link to where we bought them. we didn't like the purple ones. https://www.starkbros.com/products/garden-plants/asparagus-plants

I live in zone 6 and it took my neighbors ' 7 years to finally harvest asparagus.