25 Asparagus Crowns – 2yr-old Walker Deluxe F1 Live Plants for Fall Planting

Overview

Cultivate your own gourmet garden with these premium asparagus crowns live plants. This offering includes 25 robust, 2-year-old ‘Walker Deluxe F1’ asparagus crowns, carefully selected to provide you with a head start on a productive asparagus patch. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a highly prized perennial vegetable, meaning you plant it once and enjoy delicious harvests year after year. The ‘Walker Deluxe F1’ variety is known for its vigor and excellent spear production, making it a fantastic choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. These non-GMO crowns are substantial in size, indicating their maturity and readiness to establish quickly in your garden. Prepare for a light cutting in the first year after planting, followed by abundant regular harvests in subsequent seasons. Beyond its culinary appeal, the feathery green foliage of asparagus adds an attractive element to the garden long after the harvest is complete.

Planting these asparagus crowns live plants in the fall allows them to establish their root systems over winter, leading to stronger growth and earlier harvests in the spring. Asparagus is a long-term investment in your garden, offering a sustainable source of fresh, homegrown produce. With proper care, these plants will provide a delightful bounty for 15-20 years or more. Enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own tender, flavorful asparagus spears right from your backyard, a truly rewarding gardening experience.

Key Benefits

Investing in these asparagus crowns live plants offers numerous advantages for the home gardener, transforming your plot into a source of fresh, delicious produce for years. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Long-Term Productivity: Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning these crowns will produce harvests for 15-20 years or more from a single planting. This provides a sustainable and cost-effective source of fresh vegetables.
• Early Harvest: As 2-year-old crowns, these plants are more mature than seedlings or 1-year crowns, allowing for a light harvest as early as the next growing season, significantly reducing the waiting time for your first spears.
• Superior Flavor: Homegrown asparagus offers a superior taste and texture compared to store-bought varieties, which often lose freshness during transit. Enjoy tender, succulent spears picked at their peak.
• Non-GMO Assurance: These ‘Walker Deluxe F1’ asparagus crowns live plants are guaranteed non-GMO, providing peace of mind for those seeking natural and unaltered produce for their family.
• Nutrient-Rich Vegetable: Asparagus is packed with vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as folate, fiber, and antioxidants, contributing to a healthy diet directly from your garden.
• Garden Beauty: After the harvest season, the mature asparagus ferns develop into graceful, feathery green foliage that adds an attractive, architectural element to your garden landscape.
• Ease of Growth: Once established, asparagus is relatively low-maintenance, requiring consistent care in the initial years but becoming quite self-sufficient thereafter, making it a great option for those looking to grow asparagus.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To successfully establish and maintain your asparagus crowns live plants for years of bountiful harvests, proper planting and care are essential. Asparagus thrives in a permanent bed, so choose a location with full sun (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily) and excellent drainage. Prepare your soil by amending it deeply with organic matter, ensuring it is loose and fertile. Asparagus prefers a soil pH between 7.0 and 7.2, which is crucial for optimal growth; consider a soil test to adjust pH if necessary using lime.

When planting, dig furrows 8-10 inches deep and 3 feet apart. Create a mound of soil at the bottom of each furrow, placing the crown on top with its roots spread out over the mound. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil, gradually filling the furrow as the ferns grow throughout the first season. Maintain consistent moisture, especially during the establishment year; lighter soils may require more frequent watering. Avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot. For fertilization, before planting, incorporate 5 lbs of a 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 sq ft. In the establishment year, apply 1 lb of 10-10-10 per 100 sq ft in August, working it into the top 2 inches of soil. In subsequent years, apply 2 lbs of 10-10-10 per 100 sq ft in early spring and again after harvest. Bone meal and super phosphate can also help maintain proper soil nutrient levels for these perennial vegetable plants.

Weed control is vital, particularly during the first few years, as young asparagus plants can be easily outcompeted. Mulching can help suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. In the fall, the asparagus ferns will naturally die back. Mulching these dried ferns with a mower can help reduce weed pressure for the following season. For chemical weed control recommendations, it’s advisable to contact a local agricultural extension office. Patience is key when you grow asparagus; resist harvesting in the first year to allow the crowns to fully establish and build strength for future prolific harvests. These practices will ensure your ‘Walker Deluxe F1’ asparagus crowns flourish.

Size & Details

This offering includes 25 individual asparagus crowns live plants, each being 2 years old and substantial in size, signifying their maturity and readiness for planting. As 2-year-old crowns, they possess a well-developed root system, which contributes to faster establishment and earlier harvest potential compared to 1-year-old crowns or seeds. When mature, asparagus plants typically grow 3-5 feet tall with a spread of 1-2 feet, forming attractive fern-like foliage. These are robust plants, perfect for creating a productive asparagus bed. They are shipped as bare-root crowns, carefully packaged to ensure their health upon arrival. The expected time to maturity for initial light cuttings is the first year after planting, with full regular harvests commencing from the second year onwards. This ‘Walker Deluxe F1’ variety is known for its vigorous growth and consistent production of tender, flavorful spears, making it an excellent choice for those looking to grow asparagus successfully.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these asparagus crowns get when mature? A: When mature, the ferns of these asparagus crowns live plants typically reach a height of 3 to 5 feet, with a spread of 1 to 2 feet per plant, creating an attractive, feathery appearance in your garden.
• Q: Are these plants suitable for beginners who want to grow asparagus? A: Yes, these 2-year-old ‘Walker Deluxe F1’ asparagus crowns are an excellent choice for beginners. Being 2 years old, they are more established and resilient, making them easier to get started with compared to planting from seed.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these asparagus crowns? A: These asparagus crowns live plants are ideal for fall planting vegetables. Planting in the fall allows the root system to establish over the winter, leading to stronger growth and earlier harvests in the spring.
• Q: How much sunlight do these asparagus plants need? A: Asparagus requires full sun, which means at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, to produce the best yields and maintain plant health.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for growing ‘Walker Deluxe F1’ asparagus? A: Asparagus thrives in well-draining, fertile soil with a pH between 7.0 and 7.2. Amending the soil with plenty of organic matter before planting is highly recommended.
• Q: How long until I can harvest asparagus from these crowns? A: Since these are 2-year-old crowns, you can expect a light harvest of spears in the first spring after planting. Regular, full harvests can typically begin in the second year after planting.
• Q: Are these asparagus plants non-GMO? A: Yes, these ‘Walker Deluxe F1’ asparagus crowns live plants are certified non-GMO, ensuring you are planting natural and unaltered produce in your garden.
• Q: What USDA Hardiness Zones are suitable for growing asparagus? A: Asparagus is generally hardy in USDA Zones 3-8, and sometimes even into Zone 9 with proper care, making it a versatile choice for many gardeners.
• Q: How often should I water my newly planted asparagus crowns? A: During the establishment year, it’s crucial to maintain consistent soil moisture. Water regularly, especially during dry spells, but ensure the soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging.
• Q: Will these perennial vegetable plants provide harvests for many years? A: Absolutely! Asparagus is a true perennial, and with good care, these crowns can continue to produce delicious spears for 15 to 20 years, or even longer.