5 Viking KB3 Asparagus Bare Roots – Heirloom Green Asparagus for Cold Climates

Overview

Bring the joy of homegrown produce to your garden with these premium Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots. This offering includes 5 bare roots of the esteemed Viking KB3 variety, an exceptional open-pollinated (heirloom) asparagus known for its robust growth and superior flavor. Developed in Ontario, Canada, the Viking KB3 is an improved selection of the classic ‘Mary Washington’ variety, specifically bred for its resilience and productivity. Gardeners will appreciate its ability to produce heavy yields of thick, tender, and flavorful green spears, making it a highly rewarding addition to any vegetable patch. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, growing asparagus from heirloom asparagus plants like the Viking KB3 is a fulfilling experience, providing fresh, nutrient-rich spears for years to come.

The Viking KB3 variety stands out for its adaptability, performing exceptionally well in colder climates (USDA Zones 3-9) where other asparagus types might struggle. Its lower winterkill rate ensures a more consistent harvest year after year. Beyond its cold hardiness, this versatile asparagus also thrives in hot, dry areas, demonstrating its broad appeal. These asparagus bare roots are an excellent choice for anyone looking to establish a long-lasting, productive asparagus bed.

Key Benefits

Choosing Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots for your garden offers a multitude of advantages, combining ease of growth with an abundant harvest of delicious, fresh produce. Here are some of the key benefits:

• High Yielding: The Viking KB3 is specifically known for its ability to produce heavy yields of asparagus spears, ensuring a generous harvest for your kitchen. This means more fresh asparagus for eating, cooking, and even preserving.
• Superior Flavor & Texture: Enjoy thick, tender, and flavorful green spears that are a cut above store-bought varieties. The rich taste and satisfying texture make this variety a favorite among gourmets and home cooks alike.
• Cold Hardy & Adaptable: Exceptionally well-suited for colder climates (USDA Zones 3-9), this variety boasts lower winterkill compared to many other asparagus types. It also performs surprisingly well in hot, dry regions, showcasing its remarkable adaptability. This makes it a fantastic choice for gardeners seeking cold hardy asparagus.
• Heirloom Variety: As an open-pollinated heirloom, the Viking KB3 allows you to save seeds for future generations, preserving its unique characteristics and ensuring a sustainable gardening practice. This also means it’s a time-tested variety with proven performance.
• Improved ‘Mary Washington’ Selection: This variety is an enhanced version of the classic ‘Mary Washington’, offering better performance and resilience, particularly in challenging climates. You get the benefits of a beloved classic with modern improvements.
• Long-Term Investment: Once established, an asparagus patch can produce for 15-20 years or more, providing a continuous supply of fresh spears with minimal effort each season. It’s a rewarding long-term investment in your garden and diet.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successfully cultivating Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots requires proper site selection and consistent care, especially in the first few years. Asparagus thrives in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a permanent location as asparagus beds can produce for decades. Ensure the soil is well-draining, loose, and rich in organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5-7.0) is ideal. Before planting, amend your soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage. Dig trenches about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide, mounding a ridge of soil down the center.

When you grow asparagus from bare roots, spread the roots over the mound in the trench, ensuring the crown is slightly above the soil line. Space the crowns 12-18 inches apart within the trench, and rows 3-5 feet apart. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil, and water thoroughly. As the spears grow, gradually fill the trench with more soil until it’s level with the surrounding ground. During the first year, focus on establishing a strong root system. Do not harvest any spears; instead, allow the ferns to grow and photosynthesize, which stores energy in the crown for future harvests. Keep the bed free of weeds, which compete for nutrients and water, and ensure consistent moisture, especially during dry spells.

From the second year onwards, you can begin light harvesting. In subsequent years, harvest spears when they are 6-10 inches tall and about as thick as a pencil. Snap or cut them at ground level. Stop harvesting when the diameter of the spears significantly decreases, typically after 6-8 weeks. Allow the remaining spears to grow into ferns, which will continue to nourish the roots for the next season. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost. The Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots are resilient, but proper care will maximize your yield and ensure a healthy, long-lasting asparagus patch. Preparing your bed correctly is key to a successful harvest of these wonderful heirloom asparagus plants.

Size & Details

This product includes 5 Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots, ready for planting. Bare roots are dormant plant material, typically consisting of a crown and a network of roots, without any soil attached. This form ensures easy shipping and allows the plant to establish quickly once planted in your garden. The Viking KB3 is a perennial vegetable, meaning it will return year after year, providing a continuous harvest for many seasons. When mature, asparagus plants typically grow ferns 3-5 feet tall, which are crucial for energy storage for the following year’s crop.

These asparagus bare roots are shipped without pots, in their dormant state, which is the ideal condition for planting. They are best planted in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. With proper care, you can expect a light harvest starting in the second year after planting, with full production achieved by the third year. The individual spears can grow 6-10 inches tall before being harvested. The long lifespan of these heirloom asparagus plants makes them a highly valuable addition to any long-term garden plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do 5 Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots get when mature? A: Each Viking KB3 asparagus plant, once established, will produce ferns that typically grow 3-5 feet tall. The harvested spears are usually 6-10 inches long before they are snapped or cut.
• Q: Is the Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Asparagus is an outdoor perennial vegetable. These bare roots should be planted directly into your garden soil to establish an outdoor asparagus bed.
• Q: How much sunlight does cold hardy 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: Is this plant easy to care for, especially for beginners? A: While the initial bed preparation and first-year care for Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots require some effort, once established, asparagus is relatively low-maintenance and can produce for many years, making it a rewarding choice even for beginners.
• Q: What condition will the asparagus bare roots arrive in? A: The bare roots will arrive dormant, without soil or a pot. This is the ideal state for planting and ensures they can be easily integrated into your garden bed.
• 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 the roots to establish. A light harvest can begin in the second year, with full production expected by the third year.
• Q: Will the Viking KB3 asparagus survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, the Viking KB3 is an excellent choice for cold hardy asparagus and is well-suited for USDA Zones 3-9, demonstrating strong winter survival and lower winterkill compared to many other varieties.
• Q: What is the best time to plant these asparagus bare roots? A: The best time to plant asparagus bare roots is in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked and is no longer frozen.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for growing Viking KB3 asparagus bare roots? A: Asparagus thrives in well-draining, loose, and fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. Amending with organic matter like compost is highly recommended.
• Q: Can I use the spears from these heirloom asparagus plants for cooking? A: Absolutely! The Viking KB3 is known for producing thick, tender, and flavorful green spears that are perfect for a wide variety of culinary uses, from steaming and roasting to grilling.