75 Mary Washington Asparagus Crowns – 2 Year Bare Root Plants – Heavy Yield Heirloom Vegetable

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with Mary Washington asparagus crowns, a time-tested heirloom variety celebrated for its exceptional flavor and reliable performance. This package provides 75 high-quality, 2-year bare root asparagus plants, ready to establish a productive and long-lasting asparagus patch in your home garden. As a classic heirloom asparagus, Mary Washington is renowned for producing tender, crisp spears that are a delight to harvest and enjoy. These dormant crowns are an ideal choice for gardeners looking for a dependable perennial vegetable that will yield delicious produce for many seasons to come, offering both culinary satisfaction and garden longevity. Its robust nature and consistent yields make it a favorite among both novice and experienced growers.

The Mary Washington variety has earned its reputation through generations of successful cultivation. Its adaptability to various climates and its resistance to common asparagus diseases make it a superb choice for gardeners across the United States. Establishing an asparagus bed is a long-term investment, and choosing a vigorous, well-performing variety like Mary Washington ensures that your efforts will be richly rewarded with an abundance of fresh, homegrown spears each spring.

Key Benefits

Investing in Mary Washington asparagus crowns brings a multitude of benefits to your garden and kitchen. This classic variety offers not just a crop, but a sustainable source of fresh, healthy food year after year. Discover why these bare root asparagus plants are an excellent addition to any home garden:

• Exceptional Flavor & Texture: Enjoy crisp, tender spears with a rich, subacid flavor that surpasses store-bought varieties. Perfect for steaming, roasting, or grilling.
• Heavy Yields: Once established, these plants produce an abundant harvest, ensuring you have plenty of fresh asparagus throughout the spring season. The Mary Washington asparagus crowns are known for their strong production.
• Long-Term Productivity: As a perennial, asparagus beds can remain productive for 15-20 years or more with proper care, offering a continuous supply of this gourmet vegetable.
• Heirloom Quality: This trusted heirloom asparagus variety has been a garden staple for generations, prized for its reliability and consistent performance.
• Winter Hardy & Heat Tolerant: Adapted to a wide range of climates, Mary Washington asparagus thrives in USDA Zones 3-8, enduring cold winters and warm summers.
• Nutrient-Rich: Asparagus is packed with vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as folate, iron, and potassium, making it a healthy addition to your diet.
• Easy to Grow: Despite its gourmet status, growing asparagus is relatively straightforward for the home gardener, especially with 2-year old crowns that establish quickly.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful growing asparagus begins with proper planting and consistent care. These Mary Washington asparagus crowns are 2-year-old bare roots, meaning they are dormant and ready for planting directly into your prepared garden bed. Asparagus thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a permanent location, as an asparagus patch will produce for many years. Prepare your soil thoroughly by amending it with compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and fertility. Asparagus prefers a soil pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Good drainage is crucial; asparagus crowns will rot in waterlogged soil.

When planting, dig a trench about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Create a mound of soil at the bottom of the trench and spread the roots of each crown over the mound. Space individual crowns 12-18 inches apart within the trench. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil, gradually filling the trench as the spears grow throughout the first season. Water thoroughly after planting. During the first year, focus on establishing a strong root system; avoid harvesting any spears. Allow the ferns to grow and mature, which helps to build up energy in the crowns for future harvests. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost. Keep the bed free of weeds, as they compete for nutrients and moisture. These bare root asparagus plants are designed for robust growth.

Asparagus is a relatively low-maintenance crop once established, making it an excellent choice for a productive yet easy-care garden. Protect your heirloom asparagus from pests and diseases by ensuring good air circulation and maintaining soil health. In late fall, after the ferns have turned yellow and died back, cut them down to about 2 inches above the ground. This helps prevent overwintering pests and diseases. With proper care, your Mary Washington asparagus crowns will provide decades of delicious harvests.

Size & Details

This product includes 75 Mary Washington asparagus crowns, each being a robust 2-year-old bare root plant. These dormant crowns are shipped without soil, carefully packaged to ensure they arrive in excellent condition, ready for immediate planting. Bare root plants are an economical and effective way to establish a large asparagus bed, allowing for rapid root development once planted in the ground. Each crown has been nurtured for two years, giving it a significant head start compared to one-year-old crowns, leading to earlier and more vigorous production. When mature, Mary Washington asparagus plants typically produce spears that are 6-9 inches long and about 1/2 inch in diameter, though size can vary based on growing conditions and age of the plant.

The mature fern growth can reach heights of 4-6 feet, providing essential energy storage for the following year’s harvest. Expected time to first harvest is typically two years after planting these 2-year-old crowns (i.e., you will harvest in the third spring after planting). The crowns themselves are roughly 3-5 inches in diameter with a well-developed root system, indicating their readiness for transplantation and vigorous growth. These bare root asparagus plants are the foundation for a thriving and long-lasting asparagus patch, providing a consistent supply of delicious spears for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How many Mary Washington asparagus crowns are included in this package? A: This package contains 75 Mary Washington asparagus crowns, each a 2-year-old bare root plant, perfect for starting a substantial asparagus bed.
• Q: What condition will the bare root asparagus plants arrive in? A: The plants will arrive dormant and bare root, meaning they will not have soil or foliage. This is the ideal state for transplanting and ensures minimal stress.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these Mary Washington asparagus crowns? A: The best time to plant bare root asparagus crowns is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows them to establish before the summer heat.
• Q: How much space do I need for 75 asparagus crowns? A: With a recommended spacing of 12-18 inches between crowns, 75 plants would require a bed approximately 75-112 feet long if planted in a single row, or a proportionally sized block for multiple rows.
• Q: Is Mary Washington asparagus an heirloom variety? A: Yes, Mary Washington asparagus is a classic American heirloom variety, celebrated for its robust growth, high yields, and excellent flavor.
• Q: How long until I can harvest from these 2-year-old crowns? A: While these are 2-year-old crowns, it’s generally recommended to wait until the third spring after planting to begin harvesting to allow the plants to fully establish and build energy reserves.
• Q: What USDA zones are suitable for growing asparagus? A: Growing asparagus, especially the Mary Washington variety, is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8, making it adaptable to a wide range of climates.
• Q: What type of soil is best for heirloom asparagus? A: Heirloom asparagus thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amending with organic matter is highly beneficial.
• Q: Are these bare root asparagus plants difficult to care for? A: Once established, asparagus is relatively low-maintenance. The initial planting and first year require attention to ensure strong establishment, but subsequent years are quite easy.
• Q: Can I grow this perennial vegetable in containers? A: While possible, asparagus has an extensive root system and prefers deep, wide garden beds for optimal long-term production. Large containers would be necessary for limited success.