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

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with Mary Washington asparagus crowns, a time-tested heirloom variety celebrated for its exceptional flavor and reliable performance. This offering includes 50 high-quality, 2 year bare root asparagus plants, ready to be established in your home garden. The Mary Washington variety is a classic choice for both novice and experienced gardeners seeking a dependable perennial vegetable that will produce delicious, tender spears for many seasons. Known for its strong yields and adaptability, this American heirloom has consistently proven its worth in gardens across various climates. When properly planted and cared for, these plants will become a treasured part of your edible landscape, providing fresh, homegrown asparagus year after year. The robust nature of these heirloom asparagus plants ensures a strong start and a long, productive life in your garden.

Cultivating Mary Washington asparagus crowns allows you to enjoy the unparalleled taste of freshly harvested asparagus, a flavor far superior to store-bought options. These bare root plants are dormant upon arrival, ensuring easy handling and successful transplantation. The 2-year maturity means they have a well-developed root system, giving them a head start and increasing their chances of thriving in your garden. Prepare to transform your garden into a source of gourmet vegetables with this enduring and popular asparagus variety. The joy of growing Mary Washington asparagus is in its longevity and the consistent return of delicious harvests.

Key Benefits

Choosing Mary Washington asparagus crowns for your garden offers a multitude of advantages, making them an excellent investment for any home gardener:

• Exceptional Flavor and Texture: These heirloom asparagus plants produce crisp, tender spears with a rich, subacid flavor, perfect for culinary use. Enjoy a gourmet taste experience straight from your garden.
• Heavy and Consistent Yields: Once established, Mary Washington asparagus crowns are known for their strong and reliable production, providing abundant harvests season after season. You’ll have plenty to enjoy and share.
• Long-Term Perennial Production: As a perennial vegetable, these plants will continue to produce for 15-20 years or more with proper care, offering a lasting return on your gardening effort. This makes them a true garden staple.
• Winter Hardy and Heat Tolerant: This robust variety is adaptable to a wide range of climates, thriving in USDA Zones 3-8. It can withstand cold winters and hot summers, ensuring success in diverse growing conditions.
• Easy to Grow for All Skill Levels: Despite their gourmet appeal, growing Mary Washington asparagus is straightforward, making it suitable for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Clear instructions ensure a successful planting experience.
• Nutrient-Rich Harvests: Asparagus is packed with vitamins and minerals, offering a healthy and delicious addition to your diet. Enjoy the benefits of fresh, nutritious produce from your own backyard.
• Established 2-Year Crowns: Starting with 2 year bare root asparagus plants gives you a significant advantage, as they have a more developed root system, leading to quicker establishment and earlier harvests compared to younger crowns.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful cultivation of Mary Washington asparagus crowns requires attention to a few key factors to ensure healthy growth and bountiful harvests. Asparagus thrives in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a permanent location in your garden, as asparagus beds can be productive for decades. The soil should be well-drained, fertile, and have a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Before planting your 2 year bare root asparagus, amend the soil generously with compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage. Dig a trench about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide, then create a small mound of soil in the center of the trench. Place the asparagus crown on top of the mound, spreading its roots evenly over the sides.

Cover the crowns with about 2-3 inches of soil, and water thoroughly. As the spears grow, gradually fill the trench with more soil until it is level with the surrounding ground. Maintain consistent moisture, especially during dry periods, but avoid waterlogging which can lead to rot. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost. It’s crucial to resist harvesting any spears during the first year after planting to allow the crowns to establish a strong root system. In the second year, you can harvest lightly for 2-3 weeks. From the third year onwards, you can enjoy a full harvest season of 6-8 weeks. Proper care will ensure your heirloom asparagus plants remain productive for many years, providing a steady supply of delicious spears. Monitor for common pests like asparagus beetles and diseases like rust, taking appropriate organic or conventional measures as needed to protect your plants and continue growing Mary Washington asparagus successfully.

Size & Details

This offering includes 50 high-quality Mary Washington asparagus crowns, provided as 2 year bare root asparagus plants. These crowns are dormant upon arrival, ensuring they are ready for immediate planting in their permanent garden location. Each crown has a well-developed root system, which is crucial for rapid establishment and robust growth in your garden. Once mature, individual Mary Washington asparagus plants can reach a height of 3-5 feet when allowed to fern out, though the edible spears are typically harvested when 6-10 inches tall. The mature plants will spread approximately 12-18 inches wide, so ensure adequate spacing of 12-18 inches between crowns when planting for optimal long-term growth and air circulation.

The 2-year maturity of these bare root crowns means they have already undergone a critical growth period, allowing them to establish more quickly and potentially offer a light harvest sooner than 1-year crowns. Expect your first light harvest in the second spring after planting, with full production beginning in the third year. These perennial vegetable plants are known for their longevity, with beds often remaining productive for 15-20 years or even longer under ideal conditions. This investment in heirloom asparagus plants will provide a continuous supply of fresh, delicious asparagus for a significant portion of your gardening life.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Mary Washington asparagus crowns get? A: The edible spears are typically harvested when 6-10 inches tall. The mature fern, if allowed to grow, can reach 3-5 feet in height and spread 12-18 inches wide.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Mary Washington asparagus crowns are outdoor perennial vegetable plants. They require a permanent garden bed with full sun exposure to thrive and produce.
• Q: How much sunlight does Mary Washington asparagus need? A: Asparagus requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for optimal growth and spear production.
• Q: What condition will the 2 year bare root asparagus arrive in? A: Your 2 year bare root asparagus crowns will arrive dormant, without soil, and carefully packaged to ensure their health during transit. They should be planted as soon as possible after arrival.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for, especially for beginners? A: Yes, growing Mary Washington asparagus is relatively straightforward. While it requires patience for the first year of establishment, the ongoing care is manageable, making it suitable for beginners willing to follow planting guidelines.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these perennial vegetable plants? A: The best time to plant Mary Washington asparagus crowns is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows them ample time to establish before the summer heat.
• Q: What USDA zones are suitable for growing Mary Washington asparagus? A: This robust variety is winter-hardy and thrives in USDA Zones 3-8, making it adaptable to a wide range of climates across the United States.
• Q: How long until I can harvest from these heirloom asparagus plants? A: You should not harvest any spears in the first year after planting to allow for strong root development. A light harvest can begin in the second spring, with full production starting in the third year.
• Q: Can I grow these perennial vegetable plants in containers? A: While possible, asparagus requires deep roots and significant space. Large, deep containers (at least 20 inches deep and wide) would be needed, but in-ground planting is generally recommended for best results.
• Q: What kind of soil do these Mary Washington asparagus crowns prefer? A: Asparagus prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amending the soil with organic matter before planting is highly beneficial.