Asparagus is one of the few perennial vegetable crops. The shoots are picked as young spears in the spring. Later in the season the foliage matures into an airy, fern-like cloud which changes to a golden color in the fall. Because asparagus takes up a permanent place in the garden, but can be an attractive plant, many people with space imitations use asparagus as a border or hedge plant.
Latin Name:
Asparagus officinalis
Common Name(s): Asparagus
USDA Zones:
4 - 9
Exposure:
Full sun
Mature:
Approximately 5' tall x 3' wide
Bloom Period/Days to Harvest:
Spring through early summer, depending on the climate
Description:
Asparagus spears are straight shoots with scale-like tips. Although green varieties are most commonly grown, there are also many purple varieties. Shoots continue emerging from the soil throughout the spring. As the weather warms, shoots end to et spindly and are left to grow into the mature ferny foliage.
Cultural Notes:
Asparagus is a spring crop, preferring cooler temperatures and full sun.
Plants can be started from seed about 4 weeks before the last expected frost. More commonly they are grown from crowns, which are the one year old base and roots of the plants. These are planted in a trench with the roots spread out over mounded soil. The trench is gradually filled in as the plants grow.
Provide a fairly rich soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Maintenance:
Water regularly, especially while young. It takes about three years for plants to mature enough for harvesting. Prior to that plants should be allowed to grow and feed themselves.
Top dress annually with compost or mulch. Keep the patch free of competing weeds.
Pests:
Fusarium Wilt - Protect by buying resistant varieties.
Asparagus beetles - Hand picking should keep them under control.
Harvesting:
In the third year, begin harvesting spears that are finger-sized and about 8" long. You can either snap off the spears are cut them with a knife. Harvest for about 4 weeks the first year. In subsequent years you can harvest until the weather warms and the spears look spindly. Then allow the foliage to grow and feed the plants.
Suggested Varieties:
‘Mary Washington’ is the most commonly found variety. It was bred for rust resistance.
‘Jersey Giant’ is rust and fusarium wilt resistant and yields early.
‘Brock Imperial’ offers high yields.
‘Princeville’ does well in warmer climates.
‘Purple Passion’ is a sweet purple variety.