Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with Asparagus Mary Washington, a truly classic and beloved heirloom perennial vegetable. Renowned for its vigorous growth and exceptional flavor, this variety has been a garden favorite for generations. You will receive 20 high-quality, two-year-old asparagus crowns, which are essentially established bare-root plants ready to be transplanted into your garden. These mature crowns provide a significant head start compared to planting from seed, allowing for earlier and more abundant harvests. The Mary Washington variety is celebrated for its thick, tender, and delicious green spears, making it a perfect choice for both novice and experienced gardeners seeking to establish a productive and long-lasting asparagus bed. This robust perennial can provide fresh harvests for 15-20 years or more with proper care, making it a valuable addition to any home garden.

Known botanically as Asparagus officinalis ‘Mary Washington’, this variety is particularly well-suited for temperate climates and is highly disease-resistant. Its ability to thrive for decades makes it a sustainable and cost-effective choice for fresh, homegrown produce. The rich, earthy flavor of freshly harvested heirloom asparagus is unparalleled, offering a culinary delight that store-bought varieties often cannot match. Planting these crowns means investing in a future of gourmet meals straight from your backyard.

Key Benefits

Choosing to grow Asparagus Mary Washington offers a multitude of advantages for the home gardener. Its perennial nature ensures years of harvest from a single planting, making it a highly rewarding long-term investment. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Long-Term Productivity: Once established, these perennial vegetable crowns will produce delicious asparagus spears for 15-20 years or even longer, offering a consistent supply of fresh produce with minimal annual effort.
• Exceptional Flavor and Texture: The ‘Mary Washington’ variety is celebrated for its tender, succulent spears with a rich, classic asparagus flavor that is superior to many modern hybrids.
• Disease Resistance: This heirloom variety exhibits good resistance to common asparagus diseases like rust and fusarium wilt, contributing to healthier plants and more reliable yields.
• Early Harvest: By starting with two-year-old asparagus crowns, you significantly reduce the time until your first harvest, often allowing for a light harvest in the second or third year after planting.
• Nutrient-Rich: Asparagus is a powerhouse of vitamins (A, C, E, K, B6), folate, iron, copper, and protein, making it a highly nutritious addition to your diet.
• Low Maintenance Once Established: After the initial planting and establishment phase, asparagus beds require relatively little maintenance, primarily consisting of annual weeding and fertilization.
• Garden Beauty: Beyond its culinary value, the feathery foliage of mature asparagus plants adds an attractive, fern-like texture to the garden during the summer months.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Establishing a successful patch of Asparagus Mary Washington requires careful planning and consistent care, particularly in its initial years. Asparagus thrives in full sun, meaning it needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a permanent location, as these plants will remain productive for decades. The soil is critical; asparagus prefers well-draining, loose, and fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or aged manure to improve drainage and fertility. Prepare a trench about 12 inches wide and 8-12 inches deep, mounding up soil in the center of the trench. Place the asparagus crowns over these mounds, spreading the roots evenly. Space plants 12-18 inches apart within the trench, and if planting multiple rows, ensure rows are 3-5 feet apart.

Water immediately after planting and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during dry spells. Mulching with straw or aged compost can help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. During the first two years, avoid harvesting to allow the plants to establish a strong root system. Let the spears grow into fern-like foliage, which collects energy for the following year’s harvest. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or a good layer of compost. In late fall, after the foliage has yellowed, cut it back to about 2 inches above the ground to prepare for winter. Protection from extreme cold in winter may be necessary in colder zones, using a thick layer of mulch. Proper care ensures a long and productive life for your growing asparagus bed.

Size & Details

This offering includes 20 two-year-old asparagus crowns of the ‘Mary Washington’ variety. These crowns are mature bare-root plants, optimally sized for transplanting and quick establishment. Each crown consists of a central bud and a developed root system, indicative of its two years of growth. When fully mature, individual Asparagus Mary Washington plants can reach a height of 3-5 feet with a similar spread of fern-like foliage during the growing season. The spears themselves can grow 6-10 inches tall before unfurling. These crowns are shipped in a dormant state, ready for planting in early spring. Expect a light harvest to begin in the second or third year after planting, with full production achieved by the third or fourth year. With proper care, your asparagus patch will provide fresh spears for up to two decades or more, making it a very long-term investment in your garden’s productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big are the asparagus crowns when they arrive? A: You will receive 20 two-year-old asparagus crowns. These are bare-root plants with a developed root system, ready for immediate planting. Their exact size can vary but they are typically substantial enough for robust growth.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these asparagus crowns? A: The ideal time to plant heirloom asparagus crowns is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the plants to establish before the heat of summer.
• Q: How much sun does Asparagus Mary Washington need? A: Asparagus Mary Washington thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth and spear production.
• Q: How long until I can harvest asparagus? A: With these two-year-old asparagus crowns, you can typically expect a light harvest in the second year after planting. Full production usually begins in the third or fourth year.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for growing asparagus? A: Asparagus prefers well-draining, loose, and fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amending with organic matter is highly recommended.
• Q: Is this asparagus variety disease resistant? A: Yes, the ‘Mary Washington’ variety is known for its good resistance to common asparagus diseases such as rust and fusarium wilt, which helps in growing asparagus successfully.
• Q: How long will an asparagus patch produce? A: A well-maintained patch of perennial vegetable asparagus can produce spears for 15-20 years or even longer, making it a very long-lived garden crop.
• Q: Do I need to fertilize my asparagus plants? A: Yes, fertilize your asparagus bed annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or a generous layer of well-rotted compost to support vigorous growth.
• Q: What condition will the crowns arrive in? A: The asparagus crowns will arrive in a dormant, bare-root state, which is the standard and best way to ship them for successful transplanting.
• Q: Can I plant these in containers? A: While possible, asparagus has an extensive root system and is best grown directly in the ground in a dedicated bed for long-term productivity and ease of care.