5 Purple Passion Asparagus Crowns – 2 Year Bare Root Plants – Sweet & Tender

Overview

Discover the unique flavor and vibrant color of purple passion asparagus crowns, a highly sought-after variety perfect for any home gardener. This offering includes 5 premium 2-year bare root asparagus plants, providing a strong foundation for a productive and long-lasting asparagus bed. Known for their distinctive deep purple hue, these asparagus spears are not only visually appealing but also boast a naturally sweet, nutty flavor and exceptionally tender texture. Unlike green varieties, purple passion asparagus crowns maintain their tenderness even when mature, making them a gourmet choice for fresh eating, salads, and various culinary preparations. Establishing an asparagus patch with these robust crowns ensures a rewarding harvest of delicious, high-quality spears for many seasons to come.

Growing purple passion asparagus crowns is a delightful experience for both novice and experienced gardeners. These organic crowns are ready to be planted and will begin producing within a few years, offering a reliable yield of flavorful spears. The striking color and superior taste make this variety a favorite for those looking to add a touch of elegance and exceptional flavor to their meals. Whether you’re planning a small backyard garden or a larger plot, these 2 year asparagus crowns are an excellent investment, promising years of fresh, homegrown goodness.

Key Benefits

Cultivating purple passion asparagus crowns brings numerous advantages to your garden and culinary endeavors:

• Exceptional Flavor: Enjoy a distinctively sweet and nutty taste that surpasses many traditional green asparagus varieties, making it a culinary highlight.
• Vibrant Color: The deep purple spears add a beautiful, gourmet touch to any dish, especially when served fresh in salads or as a garnish.
• Tender Texture: Known for their smooth and firm texture, these spears remain tender even at larger sizes, offering a more enjoyable eating experience.
• High Yields: Once established, these bare root asparagus plants provide reliable and abundant harvests, ensuring a steady supply of fresh asparagus for years.
• Versatile Culinary Use: Perfect for eating fresh, roasting, grilling, sautéing, or steaming, adapting well to various cooking methods while retaining excellent flavor.
• Long-Lived Perennial: Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning once planted, your purple passion asparagus crowns will continue to produce for 15-20 years or more.
• Organic Quality: These crowns are organically grown, ensuring you receive healthy, chemical-free plants for your edible garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful cultivation of purple passion asparagus crowns begins with proper planting and ongoing care. Choose a permanent site for your asparagus bed, as these plants will produce for many years. Asparagus thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil should be well-drained, loose, and rich in organic matter. A soil pH between 6.5 and 7.0 is ideal. Before planting, prepare the bed by digging a trench about 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Create a mound of soil at the bottom of the trench, then spread the roots of each bare root asparagus plant over the mound, ensuring the crown is at the peak.

Space the crowns 6-8 inches apart within the trench, and rows 3-5 feet apart. 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 is level with the surrounding ground. During the first year, avoid harvesting any spears, allowing the plants to establish a strong root system. In subsequent years, you can begin harvesting when spears are 6-8 inches tall. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer. Protecting your organic asparagus crowns from weeds is crucial, as they compete for nutrients and moisture. Mulching can help suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. These plants are generally hardy in USDA Zones 3-8, making them suitable for a wide range of climates.

Size & Details

This offering includes 5 individual purple passion asparagus crowns, each being 2 years old. These 2 year asparagus crowns are shipped as dormant, bare root plants, meaning they arrive without soil and are ready for immediate planting upon arrival. Being 2 years old, they have a well-developed root system, which contributes to quicker establishment and earlier production compared to 1-year-old crowns. Asparagus plants typically take about 3 years from planting to yield a significant harvest, with these 2-year crowns giving you a head start. Once mature, individual plants can produce spears that are 6-8 inches tall. The mature foliage of growing purple asparagus can reach heights of 3-5 feet, forming an attractive, fern-like plant that can also serve as an ornamental backdrop in your garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: What is the best time to plant purple passion asparagus crowns? A: The ideal time to plant purple passion asparagus crowns is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the plants ample time to establish their root systems before the heat of summer.
• Q: How long does it take for these 2 year asparagus crowns to produce? A: While these are 2-year-old crowns, it is generally recommended to wait until the third year after planting for a full harvest. You might get a light harvest in the second year, but allowing them to establish fully ensures better long-term productivity.
• Q: Are these bare root asparagus plants difficult to grow for beginners? A: Asparagus requires some patience and proper site preparation, but it is not inherently difficult. Once established, these bare root asparagus plants are relatively low-maintenance and provide many years of harvest, making them a rewarding choice for beginners willing to invest time.
• Q: What condition will the organic asparagus crowns arrive in? A: Your organic asparagus crowns will arrive dormant and bare-rooted, meaning they are without soil and foliage. This is the standard and healthiest way to ship asparagus crowns, ensuring they are ready for planting.
• Q: Do I need to do anything special for growing purple asparagus in cold climates? A: For colder climates (Zones 3-5), it’s beneficial to apply a thick layer of mulch (straw, leaves) over the asparagus bed in late fall after the foliage has died back. This provides extra insulation and protection for the purple passion asparagus crowns during winter.
• Q: How much space do these 2 year asparagus crowns need? A: For optimal growth and air circulation, plant individual crowns 6-8 inches apart within the trench. If planting multiple rows, ensure they are spaced 3-5 feet apart.
• Q: Can I grow purple passion asparagus in containers? A: While possible, asparagus has an extensive root system and is a long-lived perennial, making it less ideal for container growing. Large containers (at least 20 gallons) would be needed, and consistent watering and feeding would be crucial for growing purple asparagus successfully.
• Q: How long can I store the bare root asparagus plants before planting? A: It’s best to plant bare root asparagus plants as soon as they arrive. If immediate planting isn’t possible, store them in a cool, dark place, keeping the roots slightly moist (e.g., in peat moss or newspaper) for no more than a few days.
• Q: Will the purple color of the asparagus spears fade when cooked? A: Yes, the vibrant purple color of purple passion asparagus crowns tends to soften and may turn greenish when cooked. However, the sweet flavor and tender texture remain excellent.
• Q: Is this a male or female variety, and does it matter? A: Asparagus varieties can be all-male, all-female, or a mix. While the specific sex of these crowns is not provided, ‘Purple Passion’ is known to produce well regardless, with male plants typically yielding more spears.