5 Mary Washington Asparagus Crowns – Heirloom 2-Year Perennial Plants

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with these premium Mary Washington Asparagus crowns. This beloved heirloom variety is renowned for its robust growth and delectable, tender spears, making it a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts alike. Unlike annual vegetables, heirloom asparagus plants are perennials, meaning they will return year after year, providing a consistent harvest for two decades or more. Our crowns are 2 years old, ensuring they are well-established and ready to thrive in your garden, offering vigor and productivity from the start. Enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own gourmet asparagus right at home, transforming your garden into a source of fresh, healthy produce.

The ‘Mary Washington’ variety is celebrated for its exceptional flavor and heavy yield, establishing itself as a true American classic in the world of gardening. These perennial asparagus roots are designed for success, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning. Plant them once, and enjoy bountiful harvests season after season, bringing a touch of farm-to-table freshness directly to your kitchen. Discover the joy and ease of growing asparagus with these high-quality crowns.

Key Benefits

Choosing Mary Washington Asparagus crowns for your garden offers a multitude of advantages, blending ease of cultivation with exceptional culinary rewards. This variety stands out for its reliability and delicious output.

• Long-Term Productivity: As a perennial vegetable, these heirloom asparagus plants will produce delicious spears for 20+ years from a single planting, offering an incredible return on your initial effort.
• Exceptional Flavor: ‘Mary Washington’ is famous for its tender, flavorful spears with a crisp texture, perfect for roasting, steaming, or grilling. Experience gourmet taste directly from your garden.
• Winter Hardy & Heat Tolerant: These robust plants are highly adaptable, thriving across a wide range of climates (USDA Zones 3-8). They withstand cold winters and hot summers, ensuring reliable growth.
• Heavy Yields: Known for their prolific production, these crowns will provide a generous harvest of thick, succulent spears, making them ideal for both fresh consumption and preservation.
• Established Growth: Shipping as 2-year-old crowns means they are already mature enough to establish quickly and begin producing faster than younger plants or seeds. This accelerates your first harvest.
• Easy to Grow: Once established, perennial asparagus requires minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a low-effort, high-reward crop. Follow basic asparagus plant care for optimal results.
• Nutrient-Rich: Asparagus is packed with vitamins and minerals, offering a healthy and delicious addition to your diet straight from your own backyard.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for ensuring a successful and long-lasting harvest from your Mary Washington Asparagus crowns. These hardy plants are relatively low-maintenance once established, but a good start is key. Asparagus thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal spear production. Choose a well-drained site, as soggy soil can lead to root rot. If your soil is heavy clay, consider amending it with compost or sand to improve drainage.

The ideal soil pH for heirloom asparagus plants is between 6.5 and 7.5. Before planting, prepare your bed by digging a trench about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Create a mound of soil in the center of the trench and spread the crown’s roots over the mound. Space individual crowns 12-18 inches apart to allow ample room for growth and air circulation. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil, gradually filling the trench as the spears grow taller. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.

During the first two years, focus on establishing a strong root system. Avoid harvesting spears the first year, and only sparingly in the second year. This allows the plant to put energy into developing robust crowns for future production. Keep the area free of weeds, as asparagus does not compete well. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost. These perennial asparagus plants are remarkably resilient, but consistent moisture during dry spells will encourage better growth. With proper asparagus plant care, you’ll enjoy bountiful harvests for many years.

Size & Details

These Mary Washington Asparagus crowns are shipped as healthy, 2-year-old bare roots, meaning they arrive without soil. This ensures a robust start, as the energy is concentrated in the crown, ready to burst into growth once planted. Each crown is inspected to guarantee quality and vigor, promising a strong foundation for your asparagus patch. Asparagus plants typically grow to a mature height of 3-5 feet, with a spread of 1-2 feet, forming attractive fern-like foliage after the harvest season.

The ‘Mary Washington’ variety is known for its quick establishment and strong growth habit, making growing asparagus a rewarding experience. Expect your first light harvest in the third year after planting, with full production achieved in subsequent years. The crowns are ideally suited for planting in USDA Zones 3-8, showcasing excellent winter hardiness and heat tolerance. With proper spacing and care, these crowns will develop into a productive and long-lived source of fresh, delicious asparagus.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these asparagus plants get? A: Once mature, Mary Washington Asparagus crowns can produce fern-like foliage that reaches heights of 3 to 5 feet, with a spread of 1 to 2 feet per plant. The spears themselves are harvested when they are 6-10 inches tall.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Mary Washington Asparagus crowns are outdoor plants. They are perennial vegetables that thrive in garden beds, requiring full sun and sufficient space to grow and produce for many years.
• Q: How much sunlight do these heirloom asparagus plants need? A: For optimal growth and spear production, these heirloom asparagus plants require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. A full sun location is crucial for a successful asparagus patch.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, perennial asparagus is considered relatively easy to care for. The initial planting and establishment period requires attention, but subsequent years involve harvesting and minimal maintenance.
• Q: What condition will the asparagus crowns arrive in? A: The Mary Washington Asparagus crowns are shipped as healthy, dormant bare roots, meaning they will arrive without soil. This is the standard and best practice for shipping asparagus crowns.
• Q: When is the best time to plant asparagus crowns? A: The best time for growing asparagus from crowns is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the plants to establish before the summer heat.
• Q: Will these asparagus plants survive winter in my zone? A: These ‘Mary Washington’ variety crowns are very winter hardy and are suitable for USDA Zones 3-8, meaning they can withstand cold winters and return each spring.
• Q: What is the recommended spacing for asparagus crowns? A: We recommend spacing these Mary Washington Asparagus crowns 12 to 18 inches apart within the row, with rows spaced 3 to 5 feet apart, to ensure proper air circulation and growth.
• Q: How long until I can harvest asparagus spears? A: To allow the crowns to establish a strong root system, it’s generally recommended not to harvest any spears in the first year after planting. You can begin a light harvest in the second year, with full production typically starting in the third year.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for asparagus plant care? A: Asparagus thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amending with organic matter like compost can significantly improve soil structure and fertility for your asparagus plant care.