Asparagus Crown Variety Pack – 20 Bare Root Crowns – Purple Passion, Jersey Giant, Mary Washington – Outdoor Perennial Vegetable

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our premium asparagus crown variety pack. This carefully curated collection provides 20 robust bare root asparagus crowns, offering a delightful blend of flavors, colors, and harvest styles for your vegetable garden. Ideal for both new gardeners establishing their first asparagus bed and seasoned cultivators looking to diversify, this pack ensures a bountiful and extended harvest season. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a true perennial, meaning a well-planted bed can produce delicious spears for many years, often for decades, becoming a cherished part of your home garden.

This comprehensive bundle includes five crowns each of four distinct varieties: Purple Pacific (also known as Pacific Purple), Purple Passion, Jersey Giant, and Mary Washington. This thoughtful assortment allows you to experience the best of both worlds – the gourmet sweetness and unique color of purple asparagus, alongside the classic high-yield production of traditional green spears. You’ll gain valuable insight into growing asparagus crowns, observing the differences in spear size, texture, and flavor among the varieties. Create a more diverse, resilient, and productive garden that will reward you with fresh, homegrown asparagus year after year.

Whether you’re looking to enjoy fresh-picked spears in spring or want to stock your freezer, this variety pack provides the foundation for a thriving asparagus patch. The blend of early, mid, and late-season producers often found within such a mix contributes to a longer overall harvest window, maximizing your enjoyment from this beloved perennial vegetable.

Key Benefits

Investing in this asparagus crown variety pack brings a multitude of advantages to your home garden, promising both culinary delights and gardening satisfaction. Experience the joy of harvesting your own gourmet vegetables and the long-term benefits of a well-established perennial bed.

• Diverse Flavor & Color Profile: Enjoy a unique culinary experience with both sweet, nutty purple asparagus plants and classic, tender green spears. This variety pack allows you to compare and savor distinct tastes and textures from your own garden.
• Extended Harvest Season: By planting multiple green asparagus varieties with varying maturation times, you can potentially extend your asparagus harvest window, providing fresh spears for a longer period each spring.
• High Yield Potential: The inclusion of renowned producers like Jersey Giant and Mary Washington ensures a strong foundation for high yields of large, succulent asparagus spears, perfect for cooking, steaming, or sautéing.
• Perennial Longevity: Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable, meaning a single planting of these bare root crowns can provide harvests for 15-20 years or even more, making it a highly sustainable and cost-effective garden investment.
• Adaptability to Different Climates: This selection offers varieties known for their resilience, with some performing exceptionally well in warmer climates (like Pacific Purple) and others being cold-hardy and heat-tolerant (like Jersey Giant and Mary Washington), making this asparagus crown variety pack suitable for a broad range of USDA zones.
• Gourmet Gardening Experience: Elevate your kitchen garden with unique purple varieties, known for adding a ‘gourmet’ touch to dishes and being excellent for fresh eating, roasting, and grilling.
• Garden Expansion & Establishment: Whether you’re starting a new patch or adding to an existing one, these healthy bare root crowns are an excellent way to establish a robust and productive asparagus bed.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful growing asparagus crowns begins with proper site selection and preparation. Asparagus thrives in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a location that is well-drained and will not become waterlogged, as asparagus crowns are susceptible to rot in overly wet conditions. Prepare your soil by amending it with plenty of organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve fertility and drainage. A soil pH between 6.5 and 7.5 is ideal for optimal growth. Dig trenches approximately 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide, mounding a ridge of soil down the center. Place the asparagus crowns over this ridge, spreading their roots out evenly, and then cover with 2-3 inches of soil. As the spears grow, gradually fill the trench with soil until it is level with the surrounding ground.

Water newly planted asparagus crowns regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy, especially during their first year of establishment. Once established, asparagus is relatively drought-tolerant but will benefit from deep watering during dry spells. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer or compost. Avoid harvesting any spears in the first year after planting to allow the crowns to establish a strong root system. In the second year, you can harvest for a short period (2-3 weeks), and by the third year, you can enjoy a full harvest season (6-8 weeks). After the harvest period, allow the ferns to grow to their full height; these ferns are crucial for photosynthesizing and storing energy in the crowns for the following year’s harvest. In late fall, once the ferns have yellowed and died back, cut them down to ground level and clear away any debris to help prevent disease and pests.

This asparagus crown variety pack contains varieties that are generally hardy in USDA Zones 3-10. Protection during harsh winters (such as a layer of mulch) can be beneficial in colder regions. Watch out for common asparagus pests like asparagus beetles and diseases such as rust. Good air circulation and proper sanitation practices can help prevent most issues. Remember, patience is key with asparagus; the rewards of fresh, homegrown spears are well worth the wait. Proper care in the initial years will ensure a productive patch of bare root asparagus for decades to come.

Size & Details

This offering includes a 20-count asparagus crown variety pack, consisting of 5 bare root crowns each of Purple Pacific, Purple Passion, Jersey Giant, and Mary Washington. Each crown is a dormant, one-year-old plant, carefully selected for vigor and health, ensuring a strong start for your asparagus patch. These crowns are shipped bare root, meaning they are without soil or a pot, ready for immediate planting upon arrival. While individual crown size can vary slightly, they are typically robust and well-developed, indicating good root structure for establishment. Asparagus plants typically take about three years to reach their full production potential, with light harvesting possible in the second year. Once mature, the ferns can grow 3-5 feet tall, providing crucial energy for future harvests.

The mature spears from this asparagus crown variety pack will vary in size and color. Purple varieties typically produce medium-sized, tender spears with a sweet, nutty flavor, while the green varieties like Jersey Giant and Mary Washington are known for their extra-large, thick, and tender spears. The planting distance recommended for these crowns is 12-18 inches apart within rows, with rows spaced 3-5 feet apart, allowing ample room for mature plants to thrive and for ease of harvesting. This carefully chosen collection allows for a diverse and abundant yield of both purple asparagus plants and classic green asparagus varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How many asparagus crowns are included in this pack? A: This pack includes 20 asparagus crowns. You will receive 5 crowns each of Purple Pacific, Purple Passion, Jersey Giant, and Mary Washington, making it a comprehensive asparagus crown variety pack for diverse planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these bare root asparagus crowns? A: The ideal time to plant bare root asparagus crowns is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked and after the danger of hard frost has passed. This allows them ample time to establish before the summer heat.
• Q: How big does an asparagus plant get? A: While the edible spears are harvested when they are 6-10 inches tall, if allowed to grow, the asparagus ferns can reach heights of 3-5 feet. These ferns are essential for storing energy in the crowns for the next year’s harvest.
• Q: Is this pack suitable for beginners interested in growing asparagus crowns? A: Yes, this pack is excellent for beginners. Asparagus is a relatively low-maintenance perennial once established, and the variety pack allows you to learn about different types. Detailed planting instructions are widely available and easy to follow.
• Q: How long will it take to get a harvest from these crowns? A: Asparagus requires patience. You should not harvest any spears in the first year after planting. A light harvest can be taken in the second year (for 2-3 weeks), and by the third year, you can enjoy a full harvest season (6-8 weeks) from your asparagus crown variety pack.
• Q: What kind of soil do these asparagus crowns need? A: Asparagus thrives in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. A sandy loam is ideal, with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot.
• Q: Can I grow purple asparagus plants in warmer climates? A: Yes, varieties like Pacific Purple are known to perform well in warmer climates, producing excellent quality yields. The overall variety pack is suitable for USDA Zones 3-10, offering adaptability.
• Q: Are these plants suitable for container gardening? A: While possible, asparagus generally prefers to spread its extensive root system in the ground. If using containers, choose very large, deep containers (at least 20-gallon size) to accommodate their growth and ensure adequate moisture and nutrients for these green asparagus varieties.
• Q: How do the purple and green asparagus varieties differ in taste? A: Purple varieties, like Purple Passion, are often described as sweeter and nuttier with a more tender texture, making them excellent for fresh eating. Green varieties, such as Mary Washington, offer a classic, robust asparagus flavor and are known for their crisp texture when cooked.
• Q: What is the recommended spacing for planting these crowns? A: For optimal growth and air circulation, plant the crowns 12-18 inches apart within rows. If planting multiple rows, space them 3-5 feet apart. This ensures each plant in your asparagus crown variety pack has enough room to flourish.