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

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with these premium Mary Washington asparagus crowns. This offering provides 10 robust 2 year bare root asparagus plants, ready to establish quickly in your garden. The Mary Washington variety is a treasured heirloom, famous for its exceptional flavor, crisp texture, and impressive yields year after year. As a perennial vegetable, asparagus is a long-term investment that provides delicious spears for decades once established. These dormant bare root crowns are an ideal way to start your own asparagus patch, promising a bountiful harvest of this classic American favorite. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning, the reliability and productivity of Mary Washington make it an excellent choice for a home garden.

These heirloom asparagus plants are well-suited for a wide range of climates, demonstrating excellent winter hardiness and heat tolerance. Planting 2 year bare root asparagus crowns gives them a significant head start, allowing for quicker establishment and earlier harvests compared to starting from seed. Enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own fresh, tender asparagus spears right from your backyard, knowing you’ve planted a variety that has stood the test of time for its consistent quality and performance.

Key Benefits

Investing in Mary Washington asparagus crowns offers numerous advantages for the home gardener, providing both culinary delight and long-term garden productivity. These benefits make them a superior choice for any vegetable patch:

• Exceptional Flavor & Texture: The Mary Washington variety is renowned for producing tender, crisp spears with a sweet, subacid flavor that is superior to store-bought options. Enjoy gourmet quality asparagus fresh from your garden.
• Heavy Yields & Long-Term Production: Once established, these heirloom asparagus plants are known for their heavy yields, providing abundant harvests for 15-20 years or even longer. They offer a reliable source of fresh vegetables season after season.
• Bare Root Advantage: Planting 2 year bare root asparagus crowns ensures a strong start. These dormant plants have a well-developed root system, allowing them to establish quickly and reduce the time to your first harvest.
• Hardy & Adaptable: Mary Washington asparagus is winter-hardy (Zones 3-8) and heat-tolerant, making it suitable for a broad range of growing conditions across the United States. It’s a forgiving plant that thrives with proper care.
• Perennial Convenience: As a perennial vegetable, asparagus requires only one planting to provide years of harvests. This saves time and effort compared to annual crops, making it an efficient addition to any garden.
• Nutrient-Rich Harvests: Asparagus is a highly nutritious vegetable, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Growing your own ensures you have access to fresh, healthy produce, contributing to a balanced diet.
• Classic American Heirloom: This historic variety has been a garden staple for generations, prized for its consistent performance and delicious spears. Choosing Mary Washington asparagus crowns connects you to a rich gardening tradition.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for establishing a productive patch of Mary Washington asparagus crowns. Asparagus thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and spear production. Prepare your planting bed thoroughly by ensuring well-draining soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Asparagus plants dislike wet feet, so amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or aged manure to improve drainage. Dig trenches approximately 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Create a mound of soil in the center of the trench and spread the roots of each 2 year bare root asparagus crown over the mound.

Space your crowns 12-18 inches apart within the trench, and space rows 3-5 feet apart. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil, then water thoroughly. As the shoots grow, gradually fill the trench with soil until it is level with the surrounding ground. During the first two years, focus on establishing strong root systems rather than harvesting. Allow the ferns to grow fully, as they photosynthesize and build energy reserves for future harvests. Keep the area around your heirloom asparagus plants free of weeds, which compete for nutrients and moisture. Water regularly during dry periods, aiming for consistently moist but not waterlogged soil. In late fall, after the foliage has yellowed and died back, cut the ferns down to the ground. Apply a layer of compost or well-rotted manure each spring to provide essential nutrients for vigorous growth.

Size & Details

This offering includes 10 individual Mary Washington asparagus crowns, each being a robust 2-year-old bare root plant. These crowns are dormant and shipped without soil, ensuring they are ready for immediate planting upon arrival. The 2-year age means they have an established root system, providing a significant head start compared to younger crowns or seeds. When mature, Mary Washington asparagus plants typically produce spears that are 6-9 inches long and about 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter, known for their tender and crisp texture. The mature ferns can reach heights of 4-6 feet during the growing season. This perennial vegetable is known for its longevity, remaining productive for 15-20 years or more with proper care. These 2 year bare root asparagus crowns are ideal for establishing a new asparagus bed or expanding an existing one, promising years of delicious harvests.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How many spears will I get from each Mary Washington asparagus crown? A: Once established, a single Mary Washington asparagus crown can produce anywhere from 8 to 25 spears per season, depending on its maturity and growing conditions. Yields typically increase as the plant ages.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these 2 year bare root asparagus crowns? A: The ideal time to plant 2 year bare root asparagus crowns is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked and after the last hard frost. This allows them ample time to establish before the heat of summer.
• Q: How long until I can harvest asparagus from these heirloom asparagus plants? A: For optimal long-term health, it’s recommended to wait two full growing seasons before beginning to harvest. You can take a very light harvest in the third spring, typically for 2-3 weeks, and then full harvests in subsequent years.
• Q: What USDA Hardiness Zones are suitable for growing Mary Washington asparagus? A: Mary Washington asparagus crowns are extremely hardy and thrive in USDA Zones 3 through 8. They are well-adapted to cold winters and hot summers within this range.
• Q: Do I need to fertilize my asparagus plants? A: Yes, asparagus are heavy feeders. Apply a balanced fertilizer or a layer of compost/aged manure each spring before new growth emerges, and again after the harvest season to replenish nutrients.
• Q: What kind of soil do Mary Washington asparagus plants prefer? A: These heirloom asparagus plants prefer well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amending with organic matter is crucial for improving soil structure and drainage.
• Q: Are these Mary Washington asparagus crowns disease resistant? A: Mary Washington is known for its good disease resistance, particularly to rust, which is a common asparagus ailment. This contributes to its reliability and ease of care for growing asparagus at home.
• Q: What condition will the bare root asparagus crowns arrive in? A: Your 2 year bare root asparagus crowns will arrive dormant, meaning they will not have any green foliage. This is normal and ideal for planting, as it minimizes transplant shock and allows the plant to focus energy on root establishment.
• Q: Can I grow Mary Washington asparagus in containers? A: While possible, asparagus has an extensive root system and prefers being in the ground. If container growing, choose very large containers (at least 20-gallon size) and ensure excellent drainage to accommodate these perennial vegetable plants.
• Q: How do I prepare the bed for my Mary Washington asparagus crowns? A: Before planting, thoroughly weed the area and amend the soil with plenty of organic matter. Asparagus is a long-term crop, so good bed preparation is key to success for your growing asparagus at home.