Grande F1 Asparagus Crowns – 25 Live Plants – 2 Year Old Perennial Vegetable for Fall Planting

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our premium Grande F1 asparagus crowns. This offering includes 25 robust, 2-year-old live plants, ensuring a quicker path to harvest compared to planting from seed. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a beloved perennial vegetable renowned for its tender, flavorful spears. The ‘Grande F1’ variety is celebrated for its vigorous growth and excellent yields, making it a fantastic choice for home gardeners seeking a reliable and productive crop. These crowns are ready for fall planting asparagus, allowing them to establish a strong root system over winter and emerge with delicious spears the following spring. Imagine harvesting your own fresh, crisp asparagus right from your backyard for many seasons to come.

Key Benefits

Investing in Grande F1 asparagus crowns brings a multitude of benefits to your garden and kitchen. These perennial powerhouses are not only a delicious addition to your meals but also a sustainable choice for your garden.

• Perennial Harvests: Once planted, asparagus beds can produce for 15-20 years or more, offering a continuous supply of fresh spears without annual replanting. This makes them an incredibly economical and sustainable choice for the long term.

• Early Production: By planting 2-year-old Grande F1 asparagus crowns, you significantly shorten the time to your first harvest. You’ll enjoy a light cutting in the first year after planting, with full production in subsequent years, bringing fresh asparagus to your table sooner.

• Nutrient-Rich & Delicious: Freshly harvested asparagus is packed with vitamins A, C, E, K, and folate, making it a healthy and delicious addition to any diet. The flavor of homegrown asparagus far surpasses store-bought varieties.

• Vigorous Growth & High Yield: The ‘Grande F1’ variety is known for its strong, robust growth, leading to a generous yield of thick, succulent spears. This ensures a plentiful harvest for both fresh eating and preserving.

• Non-GMO Assurance: Our non-GMO asparagus crowns provide peace of mind, allowing you to grow healthy, natural produce for your family without concerns about genetic modification.

• Ornamental Appeal: Beyond the harvest, the feathery green foliage of asparagus plants adds an attractive, almost fern-like texture to the garden throughout the summer and fall.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successfully growing Grande F1 asparagus crowns requires attention to a few key factors, primarily focusing on soil preparation, planting depth, and ongoing maintenance. Asparagus thrives in well-drained soil with a slightly alkaline pH, ideally between 7.0 and 7.2. Before planting, it’s crucial to amend your soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage. Full sun exposure is essential; choose a location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal spear production. These perennial vegetable plants are quite resilient once established, but proper care in the initial years will set them up for long-term success.

When planting, dig furrows 8-10 inches deep (or 8 inches for heavier clay soils) and create a mound at the bottom of each furrow. Spread the roots of each Grande F1 asparagus crowns over the mound and cover with 2-3 inches of soil. As the spears grow, gradually fill in the furrow until the trench is level with the surrounding ground. Space plants 12-14 inches apart within the rows, and ensure rows are 3 feet apart. Consistent moisture is vital during the establishment year; lighter soils may require more frequent watering, but always avoid waterlogging. Fertilize before planting with 5 lbs of 10-10-10 per 100 sq ft, and side-dress in August of the establishment year with 1 lb 10-10-10 per 100 sq ft. In subsequent years, apply 2 lbs 10-10-10 per 100 sq ft in early spring and again after harvest. Maintaining proper pH with lime, bone meal, or super phosphate is very important for these non-GMO asparagus plants. Control weeds diligently, especially in the first few years, as they compete with young asparagus crowns. Mulching can help suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. The fern-like foliage will die back naturally in the fall; mulching these dried ferns with a mower can further reduce weed pressure for the following season. With proper care, your grow asparagus at home project will yield delicious rewards.

Size & Details

This offering includes 25 vigorous Grande F1 asparagus crowns, each being 2-year-old plants. These mature crowns are carefully selected to provide you with a head start on your asparagus patch, allowing for a light harvest in the first year after planting. Asparagus plants typically grow to a mature height of 3-5 feet with a spread of 1-2 feet, forming attractive, feathery ferns after the harvest season. They are shipped as bare root crowns, ready for immediate planting upon arrival. With proper care and ideal growing conditions, these perennial vegetable plants can begin producing succulent spears in the spring following their fall planting, with peak production occurring in subsequent years. The ‘Grande F1’ variety is known for its ability to produce thick, tender spears consistently over a long lifespan, making it an excellent long-term investment for any gardener looking to grow asparagus at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big will the Grande F1 asparagus crowns get? A: Each crown is a 2-year-old plant, meaning it has an established root system. Once planted, the foliage will grow 3-5 feet tall and about 1-2 feet wide, forming a beautiful fern-like structure after the spears are harvested. The spears themselves can be harvested when they are 6-8 inches tall.

• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Grande F1 asparagus crowns are outdoor plants. They require a period of dormancy during winter, making them unsuitable for indoor cultivation. They are best grown in garden beds or dedicated asparagus patches.

• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Asparagus requires full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for optimal growth and spear production. Choose a sunny location in your garden for the best results when you grow asparagus at home.

• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Asparagus is relatively easy to care for once established. The most critical period is the first year after planting, focusing on weed control, consistent moisture, and proper fertilization. After that, it’s a low-maintenance perennial.

• Q: What condition will the asparagus arrive in? A: The Grande F1 asparagus crowns will arrive as bare root plants, carefully packaged to ensure they remain healthy during transit. It’s best to plant them as soon as possible after receiving them.

• Q: When is the best time to plant these crowns? A: These 2-year-old crowns are ideal for fall planting asparagus. This allows the root system to establish well over the winter, leading to stronger growth and earlier harvests in the spring.

• Q: What’s the minimum temperature these perennial vegetable plants can tolerate? A: Asparagus is a hardy perennial. Most varieties, including ‘Grande F1’, are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8, tolerating very cold winter temperatures as they go dormant. The crowns are protected by the soil.

• Q: Are these non-GMO asparagus crowns? A: Yes, these are guaranteed to be non-GMO asparagus crowns, allowing you to grow natural and healthy produce in your garden.

• Q: How long until I can harvest after planting? A: With 2-year-old Grande F1 asparagus crowns, you can expect a light harvest in the spring following your fall planting. Full, regular harvests will begin in the second year after planting.

• Q: What kind of soil do these asparagus crowns prefer? A: Asparagus thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 7.0 and 7.2. Amending with organic matter before planting is highly recommended for these perennial vegetable plants.