Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our premium purple passion asparagus bare roots. This pack of 5 vigorous bare roots offers an exceptional opportunity to cultivate one of the most sought-after and visually striking asparagus varieties. Known for its vibrant purple hue and sweeter, more tender spears compared to its green counterparts, Purple Passion Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis ‘Purple Passion’) is a gourmet delight that elevates any meal. These bare roots, measuring between 4-8 inches tall, are dormant and ready for planting, ensuring a strong start for your asparagus patch. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning once established, it will provide delicious harvests for 15-20 years or even longer, making it a truly long-term investment for your garden.

Growing purple asparagus crowns is a fulfilling experience for both novice and seasoned gardeners. The unique color of the spears is not just for show; it indicates a higher sugar content and a lower fiber content, resulting in a milder, nuttier flavor that can even be enjoyed raw in salads. Our carefully selected purple passion asparagus bare roots are disease-free and robust, setting the stage for a thriving and productive asparagus bed. Prepare to enjoy the freshest, most flavorful asparagus right from your backyard, a true testament to the joy of homegrown produce.

Key Benefits

Cultivating purple passion asparagus bare roots in your garden offers a multitude of advantages, enhancing both your culinary experiences and garden aesthetics.

• Gourmet Flavor & Texture: Enjoy significantly sweeter and more tender spears than traditional green varieties. The lower fiber content makes them perfect for eating raw or lightly cooked, offering a truly gourmet experience. This makes growing purple asparagus a treat for the palate.
• Vibrant Visual Appeal: The striking purple color of the spears adds an exotic touch to your garden and plate, making dishes more appealing and unique.
• High Nutritional Value: Rich in antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and K, and folate, purple asparagus is not only delicious but also a healthy addition to your diet.
• Perennial Harvests: Once established, your asparagus plant care efforts will be rewarded with productive harvests for 15-20 years or more, providing a continuous supply of fresh asparagus.
• Cold Hardiness: This variety is very cold-hardy once established, thriving in a wide range of climates and returning year after year.
• Easy to Grow: While initial establishment requires patience, asparagus is relatively low-maintenance once mature, offering high rewards for minimal ongoing effort.
• Space-Efficient: Asparagus can be grown in dedicated beds or even large containers, making it adaptable to various garden sizes.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful asparagus plant care begins with proper site selection and soil preparation. Asparagus thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce the most vigorous spears. The soil should be well-draining, fertile, and have a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5–7.5). Before planting your purple passion asparagus bare roots, amend the soil deeply with compost or aged manure to improve fertility and drainage. Avoid heavy or waterlogged soils, as these can lead to root rot. Dig a trench about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide, mounding soil in the center of the trench. Spread the roots of the bare root plants over the mound, spacing them about 12-18 inches apart.

After planting, water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. During the establishment phase, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, asparagus is moderately drought-tolerant, but regular watering during dry spells will promote better spear production. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted compost. Protect young plants from weeds, which compete for nutrients and water. In cooler climates, asparagus will go dormant in winter; cut back the yellowed foliage in late fall or early spring. Patience is key with growing purple asparagus; do not harvest spears in the first two years after planting to allow the crowns to fully establish and store energy for future bountiful harvests. In the third year, you can begin harvesting for a few weeks, gradually increasing the harvest period in subsequent years.

Size & Details

This offering includes a pack of 5 Purple Passion Asparagus Bare Roots, each measuring approximately 4-8 inches tall. These bare roots are dormant, meaning they are shipped without soil or leaves, which is the ideal and most effective way to transplant asparagus for successful establishment. When planted, these vigorous crowns will begin to develop roots and shoots, eventually forming mature asparagus plants capable of producing delicious spears for decades. The exact size of the spears will vary, but mature plants typically yield spears ranging from 6-10 inches in length. While the initial growth period requires patience (typically two years before the first harvest), the long-term yield and exceptional flavor of purple asparagus crowns make it a worthwhile addition to any home garden. Expect a moderate growth rate, with full production achieved by the third year after planting.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Purple Passion Asparagus Bare Roots get? A: The bare roots themselves are 4-8 inches tall upon arrival. Once planted and established, the mature asparagus plants can reach heights of 3-5 feet with their fern-like foliage, and the edible spears will typically be 6-10 inches long when harvested.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these purple passion asparagus bare roots? A: The ideal time for planting asparagus bare roots is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the crowns to establish before the heat of summer.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Asparagus is an outdoor perennial vegetable. It requires full sun and substantial root development in the ground to produce well. It is not suitable for indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does Purple Passion Asparagus need? A: This variety, like all asparagus, requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for optimal growth and spear production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: While establishing an asparagus patch requires patience and proper preparation (especially with soil and initial watering), once established, asparagus plant care is relatively low-maintenance. It is a good choice for beginners willing to invest time in the initial setup and wait for the first harvest.
• Q: What condition will the bare roots arrive in? A: Your purple passion asparagus bare roots will arrive dormant, carefully packaged without soil. This is a normal and healthy state for bare roots, ensuring they transplant well and establish vigorously in your garden.
• Q: How long until I can harvest from these purple asparagus crowns? A: Asparagus requires patience. You should not harvest any spears in the first two years after planting to allow the crowns to establish strength. In the third year, you can begin a light harvest for 2-3 weeks, and in subsequent years, you can harvest for 6-8 weeks.
• Q: Will Purple Passion Asparagus survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, Purple Passion Asparagus is very cold-hardy once established. It is suitable for USDA zones 3-8, meaning it can withstand significant winter freezes and return year after year.
• Q: What is the minimum temperature this asparagus can tolerate? A: Once established and dormant, the crowns can tolerate temperatures well below freezing, often down to -20°F (-29°C) or colder, depending on snow cover for insulation.
• Q: Can I eat purple asparagus raw? A: Absolutely! Purple Passion Asparagus has a sweeter, less fibrous texture than green varieties, making it excellent for eating raw in salads or as a crunchy snack.