Jackie,
Growing asparagus from seed can be very satisfying, because you can choose varieties to your liking. My experience in the past was positive with growing them from seed here in the northland. (NW Ontario). I grew at least 4 varieties, including the purple ones and the selective (male) ones that gave the largest spears. The best seed I got was from Lindengergs in Brandon, Manitoba and not expensive.
I started the seen in 3 inch peat squares with a starter mix having composted sheep or rabbit manure/peat/vermiculite or some such similar mix you might be familiar with. These grow 'ferny' into small plants which went into raised beds that have to be weed free (which they are not at the present

), and well endowed with fertilizer. Nitrogen richness won't harm them to grow well the first year. The second year you may expect a small harvest, but leave enough growth for the plants to strengthen further for the 3rd year of good harvest.
Quack grass is the bane of asparagus growing and keeping the plot weed free. If you challenge that well enough to keep the asparagus to outcompete the weeds, you'll succeed. Weeding and nitrogenous fertilizing go well with growing asparagus. Growing from seed is the way to go, in my opinion and get lots growing, but it takes a couple of seasons to get there.
Rich