25 Mary Washington Asparagus Roots – Perennial Vegetable, Heirloom

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with Mary Washington Asparagus roots, a classic heirloom variety celebrated for its exceptional taste and robust growth. This offering includes 25 premium bare roots, ready to establish themselves in your garden and provide years of delicious harvests. Known for producing emerald spears with tighter tips and superior flavor compared to older varieties, the Mary Washington Asparagus roots are a fantastic choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning you plant it once and enjoy succulent spears season after season, making it an incredibly rewarding long-term investment for your edible landscape. Beyond its culinary appeal, the graceful, feathery green foliage remains attractive long after the harvest period, adding ornamental value to your garden.

These non-GMO roots ensure you’re growing a pure, unadulterated vegetable, free from genetic modification. The improved yields mean you’ll get more tender, flavorful spears from each plant, enhancing your home-cooked meals and culinary creations. Growing asparagus from roots is a straightforward process that leads to a sustainable supply of this gourmet vegetable right in your backyard. Prepare to indulge in the fresh, earthy goodness of homegrown asparagus.

Key Benefits

Investing in Mary Washington Asparagus roots brings a wealth of benefits to your garden and your plate. These robust plants are designed for long-term productivity and culinary delight:

• Superior Flavor and Quality: Enjoy the classic, rich taste of asparagus with a sweet, earthy undertone. The Mary Washington variety is specifically known for its outstanding flavor, making your home-grown spears a true gourmet experience.
• Improved Yields: This enhanced heirloom variety offers heavier yields with tighter, more desirable tips, providing a more abundant harvest compared to other types of asparagus. More spears mean more delicious meals.
• Perennial Longevity: Asparagus is a true perennial, meaning once planted, it will return year after year for 15-20 years or more. This makes perennial asparagus an incredibly sustainable and cost-effective addition to your garden.
• Non-GMO Assurance: Cultivate with confidence, knowing that these roots are non-genetically modified. You’re growing a natural, wholesome food source for your family.
• Ornamental Appeal: After the harvest season, the mature asparagus plants develop beautiful, feathery green foliage that adds an attractive, fern-like texture to your garden beds. This makes them a dual-purpose plant, offering both food and beauty.
• Nutrient-Rich Harvest: Asparagus is packed with vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins K, A, C, E, and folate. Enjoy the health benefits of freshly picked, nutrient-dense vegetables.
• Long Cutting Period: The Mary Washington Asparagus roots allow for an extended harvesting period, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh spears throughout the season.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful cultivation of Mary Washington Asparagus roots begins with proper site selection and preparation. Asparagus thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal spear production. While it can tolerate part sun, yields may be reduced. Choose a permanent location, as these plants will remain in place for many years. The soil should be well-draining, rich in organic matter, and have a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or sand to improve drainage, and sandy soils with compost to enhance water retention and nutrient availability. Before planting, ensure the bed is free of weeds, as competition can significantly hinder the establishment and growth of young asparagus plants.

When it comes to watering, consistent moisture is crucial, especially during the first year of establishment. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Once established, asparagus plants are relatively drought-tolerant, but regular watering during dry spells will promote healthier growth and better yields. Fertilize in early spring before new growth appears and again after the last harvest. Use a balanced fertilizer or a compost top-dressing to replenish nutrients. For asparagus plant care, it’s essential to allow the fern-like foliage to grow after the cutting season; this foliage collects energy for the following year’s crop. Cut back dead or yellowed ferns in late fall or early spring before new growth emerges.

Protect your asparagus from common pests like asparagus beetles by hand-picking them or using organic pest control methods if necessary. Weeding is paramount, especially during the plant’s juvenile stages. Mulching around the plants can help suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and regulate soil temperature. These plants are hardy and generally low-maintenance once established, making growing asparagus from roots a rewarding endeavor that provides fresh, delicious spears for decades. The hardiness zone for Mary Washington Asparagus is typically USDA zones 3-10, showcasing its adaptability to a wide range of climates.

Size & Details

This offering includes 25 Mary Washington Asparagus roots, provided as bare roots for optimal planting and establishment. Each root is carefully selected to ensure strong, healthy growth. Once planted, these asparagus plants will develop a spread of approximately 2 feet per plant, requiring adequate spacing for proper air circulation and growth. The mature foliage can reach a height of 3-7 feet, creating an attractive, feathery backdrop in your garden after the harvesting period. Asparagus is known for its relatively slow start, requiring a few years to establish before full production begins. You can typically expect your first light harvest in the second year after planting, with full yields by the third year and beyond. These roots are ready for planting in the spring, allowing them the full growing season to establish a robust root system. The exceptional vigor of these heirloom asparagus plants ensures a long and productive life in your garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this asparagus plant get? A: The mature foliage of the Mary Washington Asparagus can reach a height of 3-7 feet with a spread of about 2 feet per plant. The spears themselves are typically harvested when 6-10 inches tall.
• Q: What condition will the Mary Washington Asparagus roots arrive in? A: The asparagus will arrive as dormant, bare roots, carefully packed and ready for planting. This is the optimal form for transplanting and establishing perennial vegetables.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Perennial asparagus is an outdoor plant, best suited for garden beds where it can receive full sun and has ample space to establish its root system and grow year after year.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Mary Washington Asparagus thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate part sun, but this may result in reduced yields.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: While asparagus requires some initial effort in bed preparation and establishment, it is relatively low-maintenance once mature. It’s a great choice for patient beginners looking for a long-term edible garden addition.
• Q: When is the best time to plant heirloom asparagus plants? A: The best time to plant asparagus bare roots is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the roots to establish before the heat of summer.
• Q: How long until I can harvest the asparagus? A: You should not harvest in the first year after planting to allow the roots to become strong. A light harvest can be taken in the second year, with full production typically beginning in the third year and continuing for many seasons.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Mary Washington Asparagus is very cold hardy, typically thriving in USDA zones 3-10. It is well-suited to overwintering in most temperate climates, with the foliage dying back and reappearing in spring.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for growing asparagus from roots? A: Asparagus prefers well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter, with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. Avoid heavy clay or waterlogged soils.
• Q: How do I prepare the bed for asparagus plant care? A: Dig a trench about 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Create a mound of soil at the bottom of the trench, spreading the asparagus crowns over the mound. Gradually fill in the trench as the plants grow.