50 Mary Washington Asparagus Crowns – 2 Year Bare Root Heirloom Plants

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with Mary Washington asparagus crowns, a cherished heirloom variety renowned for its exceptional flavor and robust performance. This collection provides 50 vigorous 2-year bare root asparagus plants, offering an excellent head start for establishing a productive asparagus patch. The Mary Washington variety stands out as a classic choice for home gardeners, consistently delivering crisp, tender spears year after year. These plants are the foundation for a long-lasting source of fresh, homegrown asparagus, a true delight for any culinary enthusiast. Originating as an American heirloom, this asparagus has been a favorite for generations due to its adaptability and strong yields once established. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning, learning to grow asparagus with this reliable variety promises a bountiful harvest.

The Mary Washington asparagus crowns are specifically selected to ensure high quality and vigorous growth. As a perennial vegetable, asparagus offers the unique advantage of producing for decades from a single planting, making it an incredibly worthwhile investment for your garden. These bare root plants are shipped dormant, ensuring they transplant easily and quickly establish themselves in their new environment. Their renowned hardiness means they can thrive in a wide range of climates, making them a versatile addition to many garden settings. Prepare to enjoy the exquisite taste of freshly harvested asparagus right from your backyard.

Key Benefits

Choosing Mary Washington asparagus crowns for your garden brings a multitude of benefits, from their historical reliability to their culinary versatility. These plants are an excellent investment for sustainable gardening, providing fresh produce for many years.

• Reliable Heirloom Performance: The Mary Washington variety is a time-tested heirloom, celebrated for its consistent and heavy yields. Gardeners can depend on these bare root asparagus plants to produce abundant, flavorful spears season after season, making them a trusted choice for long-term harvests.
• Exceptional Flavor and Texture: Known for producing crisp, tender, and succulent spears with a subacid taste, Mary Washington asparagus offers a superior culinary experience. Its delightful texture and rich flavor are perfect for roasting, steaming, grilling, or enjoying fresh in salads.
• Long-Term Productivity: As a robust perennial vegetable, Mary Washington asparagus crowns can remain productive for 15-20 years or even longer with proper care. This makes them a highly economical and sustainable choice for continuous fresh vegetable supply.
• Wide Adaptability and Hardiness: These plants are winter-hardy and heat-tolerant, thriving across a broad spectrum of USDA zones (3-8). This resilience allows a wide range of gardeners to successfully grow asparagus, adapting to various climatic conditions.
• Easy to Establish: Supplied as 2-year bare root crowns, these plants are past their most delicate seedling stage, making them easier to establish in the garden. This maturity reduces the initial care requirements and speeds up the time to first harvest compared to planting from seed.
• Disease Resistance: Mary Washington asparagus is known for its good resistance to common asparagus diseases like rust and fusarium wilt, contributing to healthier plants and more consistent yields. This inherent strength simplifies maintenance and ensures a more successful harvest.
• Gardener Friendly: Suitable for both beginner and experienced gardeners, the straightforward requirements for these heirloom asparagus make them an approachable crop. Their dependable nature encourages even novice gardeners to successfully grow asparagus.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To successfully establish and maintain your Mary Washington asparagus crowns, careful attention to planting and ongoing care is crucial. Asparagus thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Choose a permanent location for your asparagus bed, as these plants will produce for many years and do not like to be moved. Prepare the soil by incorporating a generous amount of organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve drainage and fertility. Asparagus prefers a well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Avoid heavy clay soils or areas where water tends to sit, as this can lead to crown rot.

When planting your 2-year bare root asparagus plants, dig a trench approximately 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Create a small mound of soil in the center of the trench and spread the roots of each crown over the mound. Space crowns 12-18 inches apart within the trench, and rows 3-5 feet apart. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil, gradually filling the trench as the spears emerge and grow throughout the first season. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil. During the first two years, it’s essential to allow the ferns to grow fully without harvesting, as this energy is critical for building a strong root system that will support future harvests. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost. Keep the bed free of weeds, as asparagus does not compete well with them. These growing practices will help your heirloom asparagus thrive for decades.

Watering is key, especially during dry spells in the first couple of years. Once established, asparagus is relatively drought-tolerant but will benefit from consistent moisture during spear production. In colder climates, ensure a good layer of mulch is applied in late fall to protect the crowns from freezing temperatures. In warmer regions, mulch helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Monitor for pests like asparagus beetles and diseases, though Mary Washington asparagus crowns are known for their resilience. With proper care, you will enjoy many seasons of delicious, homegrown asparagus, a testament to your efforts to grow asparagus successfully.

Size & Details

This offering includes 50 individual Mary Washington asparagus crowns, each being a 2-year-old bare root plant. These crowns are dormant upon arrival, ensuring they are ready for immediate planting and optimal establishment in your garden. The 2-year maturity means they have a well-developed root system, which contributes to quicker establishment and a healthier start compared to younger crowns or seeds. Each crown will produce multiple spears, and with proper spacing of 12-18 inches apart, these 50 plants will create a substantial asparagus patch capable of feeding a family for many years.

Once established, the ferny foliage of the perennial vegetable can reach heights of 3-5 feet during the summer months, providing an attractive backdrop in your garden. While the first significant harvest typically begins in the third year after planting, you may be able to enjoy a light harvest in the second year. The productive life of these heirloom asparagus plants can extend for 15-20 years or more, offering a continuous supply of fresh, delicious spears. These bare root asparagus plants are shipped without soil, carefully packaged to maintain their dormancy and health during transit.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: Once established, the ferny foliage of Mary Washington asparagus crowns can grow 3-5 feet tall during the summer. The edible spears are typically harvested when they are 6-10 inches tall and about as thick as a pencil.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Asparagus is an outdoor perennial vegetable. It requires a permanent garden bed in full sun to thrive and produce spears for many years.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: While establishing an asparagus bed requires initial effort and patience (no harvesting for the first 1-2 years), once established, heirloom asparagus like Mary Washington is relatively low-maintenance and very long-lived, making it a rewarding crop for both beginners and experienced gardeners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your bare root asparagus plants will arrive dormant, without soil, and carefully packaged to ensure their health. They will appear as a tangle of roots with a crown in the center, ready for planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant Mary Washington asparagus crowns is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the plants to establish their root system before the heat of summer.
• Q: How long until it produces a harvest? A: To ensure a strong, long-lived bed, it is recommended to wait until the third year after planting for your first full harvest. A very light harvest may be possible in the second year, but allowing the plants to establish fully is key to long-term productivity.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, Mary Washington asparagus crowns are extremely winter-hardy and are suitable for USDA Zones 3-8, making them resilient in a wide range of cold climates. They are well-adapted to surviving cold winters and regrowing in spring.
• Q: What type of soil do these bare root asparagus plants prefer? A: They thrive in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amending the soil with plenty of organic matter before planting is highly beneficial to grow asparagus successfully.
• Q: Can I really expect to harvest for 15-20 years? A: Absolutely! With proper planting, ongoing care, and a suitable location, a well-maintained bed of Mary Washington asparagus crowns can indeed produce for 15-20 years or even longer, making it a fantastic long-term investment for your garden.
• Q: Is this variety resistant to diseases? A: Yes, Mary Washington asparagus crowns are known for their good resistance to common asparagus diseases such as rust and fusarium wilt, contributing to their reputation as a reliable and easy-to-grow perennial vegetable.