50 Jersey Giant Asparagus Crowns – 2 Year Bare Root Plants – Large Spears

Overview

Transform your garden into a productive edible landscape with these premium jersey giant asparagus crowns. This offering includes 50 high-quality, 2-year-old bare root plants of the renowned Jersey Giant variety, celebrated for its exceptional yield and superior spear quality. Widely considered one of the best choices for a long-lasting, high-yield vegetable patch, Jersey Giant produces thick, tender spears year after year. These robust asparagus bare roots are ready to establish quickly, making them a favorite among gardeners seeking a reliable perennial harvest. With proper care, your asparagus bed will provide delicious, fresh asparagus for many seasons to come, making growing asparagus a rewarding experience.

The Jersey Giant is a mostly all-male asparagus variety, which naturally leads to higher production. Since energy is focused on spear growth rather than seed production, you can expect an abundance of extra-large, uniform spears. This variety is also highly valued for its excellent flavor and satisfying texture, perfect for fresh eating, cooking, roasting, or slicing into salads. Its adaptability makes it a strong performer across various climates, offering both cold-hardiness and heat tolerance. Investing in these jersey giant asparagus crowns means investing in years of homegrown gourmet vegetables.

Key Benefits

Choosing Jersey Giant asparagus for your garden offers numerous advantages, ensuring a bountiful and delicious harvest. These benefits extend from ease of cultivation to the quality of the produce itself, making perennial asparagus a smart choice for any home gardener.

• Exceptional Yield: As a predominantly all-male variety, Jersey Giant focuses its energy on spear production, resulting in significantly higher yields compared to other types. You’ll enjoy an abundant supply of fresh asparagus season after season.
• Superior Spear Quality: Known for producing extra-large, uniform spears that boast excellent flavor and a crisp, tender texture. These spears are ideal for a variety of culinary uses, from steaming to roasting.
• Long-Lasting Harvests: These 2-year asparagus bare roots establish quickly and, once mature, can produce for 15-20 years or more, providing a dependable source of fresh vegetables.
• Cold-Hardy & Heat-Tolerant: Designed to perform well in a wide range of climates, from USDA Zones 3 to 10. This resilience makes cold hardy asparagus a versatile choice for many regions.
• Easy to Grow: While requiring patience in the first few years, established Jersey Giant asparagus beds are relatively low-maintenance, offering a rewarding return for minimal effort.
• Nutrient-Rich: Asparagus is packed with vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as folate, iron, and potassium, making it a healthy addition to any diet.
• Adds Garden Structure: The fern-like foliage that develops after harvest adds an attractive, feathery texture to your garden beds throughout the summer and fall.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful growing asparagus, especially the robust Jersey Giant variety, begins with proper planting and consistent care. These 2-year bare root crowns are ready to thrive with the right conditions. Asparagus prefers a site with full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Good drainage is crucial, as asparagus roots can rot in waterlogged soil. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or sand to improve drainage, or consider planting in raised beds. The ideal soil pH for Jersey Giant asparagus is between 6.5 and 7.5. Conduct a soil test before planting to determine if amendments like lime or sulfur are needed.

When planting your jersey giant asparagus crowns, dig a trench about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Create a mound of soil at the bottom of the trench and spread the bare root crowns over the mound, ensuring the roots fan out evenly. Cover the crowns with about 2-3 inches of soil, gradually filling the trench as the spears grow throughout the first season. Space plants 12-18 inches apart within the row, and allow 3-5 feet between rows to ensure adequate air circulation and room for growth. Water thoroughly after planting. In subsequent years, keep the bed free of weeds, which can compete for nutrients and moisture. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring and after the harvest season to support strong growth and spear production for your perennial asparagus.

During the first two years, avoid harvesting to allow the plants to establish a strong root system. This patience will be amply rewarded with years of abundant harvests. In the third year, you can begin to harvest spears when they are 6-10 inches tall and about as thick as your finger. Snap or cut them off at ground level. Stop harvesting when spears become thin, typically after 4-6 weeks. Allow the remaining spears to fern out, which will help the plant store energy for the following season. The ferns will naturally die back in the fall; mulching these dried ferns can help reduce weed pressure and provide winter protection for your cold hardy asparagus.

Size & Details

This product includes 50 individual jersey giant asparagus crowns, which are 2-year-old bare root plants. These crowns are carefully selected to ensure vigorous growth and high productivity. When fully mature, Jersey Giant asparagus plants typically grow to a height of 3-5 feet with a spread of about 2-3 feet as their fern-like foliage develops. The spears themselves are known for their impressive size, often reaching 6-10 inches in length and a significant diameter before harvest. These bare roots are shipped dormant and ready for fall or early spring planting, depending on your climate zone. Expect to begin harvesting light crops in the third year after planting, with full production achieved by the fourth or fifth year, providing a consistent supply of fresh asparagus for decades. The plants are well-suited for USDA Zones 3-10, showcasing their remarkable adaptability.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Jersey Giant asparagus plants get? A: Once established, the fern-like foliage of jersey giant asparagus crowns can grow 3-5 feet tall and spread 2-3 feet wide during the growing season. The spears themselves are notably large and tender.
• Q: What condition will the asparagus arrive in? A: Your asparagus bare roots will arrive dormant and carefully packaged. This is the ideal state for planting and ensures the best chance for successful establishment in your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Asparagus is an outdoor perennial vegetable. It thrives in sunny garden beds and is not suitable for indoor cultivation. Proper outdoor planting is key for growing asparagus.
• Q: How much sunlight does Jersey Giant asparagus need? A: For optimal growth and spear production, Jersey Giant asparagus requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: While asparagus requires patience during its establishment phase (first 2 years with no harvest), once established, perennial asparagus is relatively low-maintenance and can produce for many years with basic care.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these asparagus crowns? A: The best time to plant jersey giant asparagus crowns is in the fall or early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the roots to establish before the heat of summer or the deep cold of winter.
• Q: What USDA zones are suitable for Jersey Giant asparagus? A: Jersey Giant is a very versatile and cold hardy asparagus variety, suitable for growing in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10.
• Q: How long until I can harvest the asparagus? A: You should avoid harvesting any spears for the first two years after planting to allow the crowns to develop a strong root system. A light harvest can begin in the third year, with full production starting in the fourth or fifth year.
• Q: What kind of soil does asparagus prefer? A: Asparagus thrives in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amending with organic matter can improve soil structure and fertility.
• Q: Can I grow other vegetables near asparagus? A: Yes, you can grow companion plants like tomatoes, parsley, and basil near your asparagus. Avoid planting onions, garlic, or potatoes nearby as they can inhibit asparagus growth.