50 Purple Passion Asparagus Crowns – 2 Year Bare Root Plants – Sweet Spears

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our premium Purple Passion asparagus crowns. This listing provides 50 high-quality, 2-year bare root plants, ready to establish a thriving and productive asparagus bed in your home garden. Known for its distinctive deep purple color, exceptional sweetness, and tender texture, Purple Passion asparagus is a gourmet choice that elevates any culinary creation. Unlike traditional green varieties, these spears retain a beautiful hue when lightly cooked, making them a visually stunning addition to salads and dishes. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a perennial vegetable, meaning with proper care, these crowns will provide bountiful harvests for many years, offering a sustainable source of fresh, flavorful produce.

Choosing 2-year-old bare root Purple Passion asparagus crowns gives you a head start, as they are more mature and typically establish quicker than younger crowns. This variety is celebrated for its robust growth and strong yields once established, making it suitable for both novice and experienced gardeners. Prepare to enjoy the unique nutty and sweet flavor profile that sets Purple Passion asparagus crowns apart from the rest.

Key Benefits

Our Purple Passion asparagus crowns offer a myriad of advantages for the discerning gardener and home chef. Cultivating this unique variety brings both aesthetic appeal and culinary delight to your table:

• Distinctive Purple Color: These asparagus spears boast a vibrant, deep purple hue, adding an eye-catching element to your garden and plate. The color softens when cooked but remains visually appealing, especially in fresh preparations.
• Superior Sweetness & Flavor: Enjoy a naturally sweet, nutty flavor that is often preferred over green varieties. The tender texture makes them a gourmet choice for various dishes.
• High Yield Potential: Once established, these 2-year bare root asparagus crowns are known for their reliable and strong productivity, providing abundant harvests season after season.
• Versatile Culinary Use: Perfect for fresh eating, salads, roasting, grilling, or sautéing. The unique characteristics of sweet asparagus spears make them a chef’s delight.
• Perennial Longevity: Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable, meaning your initial planting will continue to produce for 15-20 years or more with proper care, offering excellent value.
• Enhanced Vigor: Starting with 2-year-old crowns provides a more mature and robust plant, often leading to quicker establishment and earlier harvests compared to younger crowns.
• Garden Beauty: Beyond its edible qualities, the fern-like foliage of asparagus adds an attractive, feathery texture to the garden throughout the summer months.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful cultivation of Purple Passion asparagus crowns begins with proper site selection and planting. Choose a sunny location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Asparagus thrives in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and fertility. Before planting, dig a trench about 8-12 inches deep and 12-18 inches wide. Create a mound of soil at the bottom of the trench, and spread the roots of each bare root crown over the mound, spacing plants 6-8 inches apart for optimal growth of these 2 year asparagus crowns.

Cover the crowns with about 2-3 inches of soil, and water thoroughly. As the spears grow, gradually fill in the trench with soil until it’s level with the surrounding ground. During the first year, avoid harvesting to allow the plants to establish a strong root system. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost. These bare root asparagus plants are hardy in USDA Zones 3-8, making them suitable for a wide range of climates. Protect young plants from weeds, which can compete for nutrients and moisture.

After the first year, you can begin light harvesting in the second spring, and a full harvest can be expected by the third year. Harvest spears when they are 6-10 inches tall and about the thickness of a pencil, snapping them off at ground level. Stop harvesting when spears become thin, typically around late June. Allow the remaining spears to grow into fern-like foliage, which will gather energy for the following year’s crop. This careful management ensures a long and productive life for your Purple Passion asparagus crowns.

Size & Details

This offering includes 50 Purple Passion asparagus crowns, each being a robust 2-year-old bare root plant. These crowns are shipped dormant, without soil or foliage, ensuring they are ready for immediate planting upon arrival. The 2-year maturity provides a significant advantage, as these crowns have a well-developed root system, leading to quicker establishment and an earlier productive harvest compared to 1-year crowns. While initial harvest is recommended in the third year after planting, some growers may see a light harvest in the second year, allowing for an earlier enjoyment of these sweet asparagus spears.

When mature, individual asparagus plants can reach a height of 3-5 feet with their fern-like foliage. Each crown, when planted as recommended with 6-8 inches spacing, will contribute to a dense and productive bed. Expect a full harvest of tender, vibrant purple spears, typically 6-10 inches in length, once the bed is fully established. These bare root asparagus crowns are a long-term investment, promising fresh, gourmet produce for decades to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Purple Passion asparagus crowns get? A: These are 2-year bare root crowns, meaning they have a well-established root system ready for planting. Once mature, the fern-like foliage of the asparagus plant can reach 3-5 feet tall. The harvested spears are typically 6-10 inches long.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Purple Passion asparagus crowns are outdoor plants, best suited for garden beds. They are perennial vegetables that require a period of dormancy in colder temperatures to produce optimally.
• Q: How much sunlight does Purple Passion asparagus need? A: Asparagus requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, to thrive and produce a good harvest.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: Asparagus requires some initial effort in bed preparation and patience during the establishment phase, but once established, it is relatively low-maintenance. It can be a rewarding plant for beginners willing to follow planting and care guidelines for these 2 year asparagus crowns.
• Q: What condition will the bare root asparagus arrive in? A: The bare root asparagus crowns will arrive dormant, meaning they will have no foliage or soil. This is normal for bare root plants and ensures they are ready for planting.
• Q: How long until I can harvest Purple Passion asparagus? A: For a strong, long-lasting bed, it’s recommended to wait until the third year after planting for a full harvest. A light harvest may be possible in the second year. Patience is key for prolific sweet asparagus spears.
• Q: Will Purple Passion asparagus survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, Purple Passion asparagus crowns are hardy in USDA Zones 3-8, meaning they are well-suited to survive winter in a wide range of climates and will re-emerge in spring.
• Q: What is the recommended spacing for these bare root asparagus crowns? A: For optimal performance and spear size, it is recommended to space the bare root asparagus crowns 6-8 inches apart in the planting trench.
• Q: Do I need to fertilize my asparagus bed? A: Yes, an annual application of a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring will help maintain soil fertility and support robust growth and production of your Purple Passion asparagus crowns.
• Q: Can I grow purple asparagus in containers? A: While possible, asparagus generally prefers to spread its extensive root system in a garden bed. Large, deep containers would be required, and yields may be reduced compared to in-ground planting.