(Ardent asparagus lovers recommend tripling these quantities.). The roots will get covered in a purple mould, the leaves will turn yellow and quickly die. For the biggest crops, purchase all-male plants. Make trenches 5 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches apart. It is resistant to rust and fusarium wilt and it does best in growing zones 3-8. Put the asparagus crowns in the trenches, spacing them 12-18” apart and spreading out the roots. Partially refill each trench with the soil from the sides, covering the crowns 2-3” deep, and water them in. Melissa King began writing in 2001. When tiny flowers appear, observe them with a magnifying glass. Dig a trench for asparagus crowns in early spring, after the last frost date has passed for your area. Do not cut the spears below the soil. Asparagus does best in lighter soils that warm up quickly in spring and drain well; standing water will quickly rot the roots. Cover the roots with two inches of soil, and continue to fill in the trench as shoots grow. Do not pack or compact the soil, as this makes it difficult for young asparagus spears to emerge. Jersey Giant Asparagus plants are resistant to most diseases and will keep growing for up to 20 years! Harvest 7- to 9-inch spears by snapping them at the base. Now, here's everything you need to know about growing asparagus, whether you start from seed or spear. Weed out all female plants. Organic 3 year roots crowns for your garden. The spears are not heat resistant, but Jersey Giant is well adapted to the South, as is evident by its inclusion on the recommended varieties list of ten Southern states' university extension services (sweeping from Arkansas across to Georgia and Virginia, and every state in between). The ‘Jersey Giant’ variety is an all male hybrid that is highly productive and very vigorous. Year-old crowns typically produce their first crop within two to three years after planting. Spacing Plant crowns 31-46 cm (12-18″) apart. This is a a serious disease for the asparagus plant. Don’t harvest any asparagus spears during the first two years that plants are in the permanent bed because they need to put energy into establishing deep roots. Best for high yield, fine flavor and the largest succulent spears. Even though it takes asparagus plants three years to fully mature, it'll be well worth it when you have a bounty of nutritious spears at your disposal. They are often used for processing and for fresh market. Resists fusarium wilt, crown rot and rust. Jersey Knight is an all-male variety of asparagus that offers cold hardiness and resistance to diseases such as root rot, rust and fusarium. The crowns thrive in sandy loam soil, but they will grow in other soil types. Sow single seeds in newspaper pots, place the pots in a sunny window, and use bottom heat to maintain the temperature of the mix in the pots at 77ºF. (NJ56 x JN22-8) Patented. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Best Benefits of Kombucha, According to RDs, 25 Hard-to-Kill Indoor Plants Anyone Can Own, What You Need to Know About Collagen Supplements, How to Keep Your Christmas Cactus Blooming, 30 Fall Flowers That'll Spruce Up Your Garden. Add 2 pounds of 0-20-0 superphosphate or 1 pound of 0-46-0 triple superphosphate to the bottom of each 50-foot row. The spears can be up to 7 to 9 inches long and they grow profusely on vigorous plants. If young spears turn brown and become soft or withered, they may have been injured by frost. Two weeks later, add another inch or two of soil. Requirements Full sun, rich soil. Varieties of Asparagus ‘Jersey’ Series – This all-male series of hybrid asparagus varieties include ‘Jersey Giant,’ a hardy plant that performs well in chilly climates. Fill the trenches with three parts topsoil and one part compost to completely cover the crowns. Asparagus plants are monoecious, which means each individual asparagus plant is either male or female. Pests Rust, fusarium wilt and fusarium stem and crown rot. Very adaptive, and easy to grow. Allow the spears to develop fully during the first year; do not harvest them. Planting deeper than 5 inches may result in reduced yields. Set the crown on top of the mound, spreading the roots down the sides. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Select a male dominant hybrid asparagus variety such as Jersey Giant or Jersey Knight. They lay dark eggs along the leaves, which hatch into light gray or brown larvae with black heads and feet. Why trust us? To plant asparagus crowns, dig trenches 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep (8 inches in sandy soil) down the center of the prepared bed. When the seeds sprout, lower the temperature to 60 to 70ºF. For best results, cut little or none of the asparagus plant until after the first year to ensure a large and healthy crop the next year. Remove weeds from the trenches regularly. Seed-grown plants don't suffer from transplant trauma like nursery-grown roots, and you can buy a whole packet of seed for the same price you'll pay for one asparagus crown. Like other varieties of asparagus, Jersey Knight is high in fiber, potassium and folic acid, as well as vitamins A, B6 and C. Jersey Knight is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 through 10. As asparagus matures, it crowds out most weeds and sends long, fleshy roots deep into the earth, so watering is less critical. Cut the dead growth back in the early spring, after winter has passed. Unfolding asparagus bloom. Growing Asparagus (Jersey Giant). Plant Asparagus roots: Buy Jersey Knight, Supreme, Giant, Heirloom. But be prepared, this is no ordinary vegetable crop. Backfill the trench with topsoil to create a mound at the bottom of the hole. For this reason, growing male asparagus plants is often preferred. Complete the harvest before July 1. Soak the asparagus crowns in lukewarm water for several minutes before planting. The Asparagus Jersey Giant, Asparagus 'Jersey Giant', a spring planted herbaceous root, produces large quantities of quality spears of green Asparagus. Best for high yield, fine flavor and the largest succulent spears. Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable crop that is enjoyed by many gardeners. She is also the owner and operator of Howbert Freelance Writing. For climates that don't have deep winter freezes, UC 157 is a good … While you might think that two-year-old crowns are a better option, they tend to suffer more from transplant shock and won’t produce any faster than one-year-old crowns. Set each crown on top of the mound and drape the roots over the mound. Control by hand picking; spray or dust seriously infested asparagus plants with an insecticidal soap. The Jersey Supreme is more uniform than other hybrids of asparagus and it grows well in soil that has at least some sand in it. Finish covering the asparagus roots with soil and water thoroughly after planting. Remove and destroy the fern-like foliage before new growth appears in spring; it can harbor diseases and pest eggs. This plant takes time to grow, but the results are well worth it. A 25-foot row should yield 7 to 12 pounds of asparagus. It is also disease resistant. Leave those that are smaller than a pencil. Snap off 8- to 10-inch spears that are less than 1 inch in diameter before the buds open. Plant asparagus just once for several years of harvest. Asparagus has a colorful history and seductive personality. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Even more, this versatile green is rich in B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and iron, making it a healthy (and welcome) addition to any meal. Refrain from cutting back dead asparagus fern growth at the end of the season. The crop comes slightly later than Jersey Giant so you can extend your season by planting both. It was brought to America with the earliest colonists where it escaped from gardens and … 7 Major Reasons You Should Try Dry January, What Our Senior Home Editor Wants Right Now, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. 'Jersey Giant' is the most winter hardy of all the Jersey Hybrids and it is widely adapted to temperate and cool climates. Stick to an all-male asparagus variety if high yield is your main goal. When you plant, also apply a vegetable fertilizer or a 10-10-10 fertilizer in the amount recommended on your … The Jersey Giant Asparagus is a male hybrid garden plant. Water the asparagus crowns thoroughly until the soil feels moist. Asparagus prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 7.0 in full sun or part shade. Fill asparagus trenches with 2 to 3 inches of soil every few weeks as the plants begin to grow. Growing Keep soil moist, but not wet. These hybrids can out-yield the Mary Washington varieties by as much as 3 to 1. Twice the yield of old-fashioned kinds. Prepare a planting bed for your asparagus —simple raised beds work best — that's about 4 feet wide by removing all perennial weeds and roots, and digging in aged manure or compost. The 1/4-inch-long, metallic blue-black pests have three white or yellow spots on their backs. Cold-hardy, and overwinters to zone-3. In northern climates, start seedlings indoors in late February or early March. The all-male types can produce more spears, but the male/female plants can potentially make seeds and multiply. Apply 20 pounds of 10-20-10 fertilizer or mature compost per 1,000 square feet of soil. A very productive plant: yields 2-4 times more spears than older varieties. Planting: Dig a trench 8 inches deep and wide enough to accommodate the outspread roots (about 10 inches), then space the asparagus 18 inches apart. Leave winter-killed foliage, along with straw or other light mulch, on the bed to provide winter protection. Jersey Giant grows well throughout the United States and resists fusarium wilt, crown rot and rust. Buy one-year-old crowns from a reputable nursery that sells fresh, firm, disease-free roots. Plant once, harvest for years: growing asparagus in a well-maintained bed can provide you with sweet, slender veggies for up to 15 years. Asparagus Roots Crowns For Sale 3 Year. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Asparagus officinalis CULTURE: Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable crop. How to plant Asparagus roots crowns for sale, easy to plant, fast to grow, garden, gardening delight I have been using straw as a mulch (my straw comes from my goat barn, but have used fresh as well), the asparagus pushes through it no problem, the grass does not, with first and second year plants i put a small stake where the plant is, as these … 6 Things You Need to Know Before Growing Broccoli, The Secret to Growing the Most Flavorful Eggplants, Follow This 6-Step Guide to Grow the Best Tomatoes. Side-dress the trenches with mulch in the fall, before the first frost date. Timing Plant 4 weeks before the last average frost date. Missouri Botanical Garden: Asparagus Officinalis 'Jersey Knight', The Ohio State University Extension: Growing Asparagus in the Home Garden, How to Grow Artichokes and Asparagus Together. And it is probably the most demanding vegetable there is to get started. If you want to grow white asparagus, which has a slightly milder flavor than green asparagus, blanch the spears by heaping up soil or mulch over the bed before they emerge. Leave four feet between rows. They are very tasty and meaty. You will get the first large harvest in the third and fourth years. Healthy asparagus foliage is necessary for good root and spear production. There's a reason why many of us turn to asparagus in the spring and summer months: It's one of the first crops of spring harvest, and the fresh-picked spears are more tender and tasty during the growing season. She spent three years writing for her local newspaper, "The Colt," writing editorials, news stories, product reviews and entertainment pieces. Can produce up to twice the yield of standard varieties. Some varieties of asparagus, such as Jersey Knight and Jersey Giant, produce all male or primarily male plants, so they’re more productive — male plants yield more harvestable shoots because they don’t have to invest energy in producing seeds. Place asparagus crowns about 18 inches apart in the trenches with the buds pointing up. Asparagus is extremely nutritious and has many health benefits! Depth Plant in 15-cm (6″) deep furrows. ASPARAGUS ROOTS, Jersey Giant – Asparagus officinalis FULL SUN Native to most of Europe, North Africa and many parts of Asia, Asparagus has been cultivated for thousands of years. Select and prepare your asparagus bed with care — this crop will occupy the same spot for 20 years or more. Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Giant’ Family Liliaceae. It is possible to grow asparagus from seed, but doing so significantly increases the time you'll need to wait to harvest. ‘Jersey … Resists fusarium wilt, crown rot and rust. Next, place crowns at the bottom of the trench, water in, … Asparagus miner is another foliage-feeding pest; it makes zig-zag tunnels on the stalks. In early spring, harvest spears every third day or so; as the weather warms, you might have to pick your asparagus twice a day to keep up with production. Asparagus is one of the more permanent vegetable crops in a garden. Stop adding soil once the trenches are completely filled in and even with the rest of the garden. Once the danger of frost passes, plant the seedlings (which should be about 1 foot tall) 2 to 3 inches deep in a nursery bed. In cold climates, look for Jersey Giant or Jersey Knight. Cover spears with mulch or newspaper when freezing nights are predicted. Soak the crowns in compost tea for 20 minutes before planting. The ferns that grow following harvest should not be cut until they are … BEST ANSWER: Hi Jeff, I have been growing Jersey Knights for about 20 years. These methods also control the 12-spotted asparagus beetle, which is reddish brown with six black spots on each wing cover. Plant them immediately if possible; otherwise, wrap them in slightly damp sphagnum moss until you are ready to plant. After spears emerge, spreading a 4- to 8-inch layer of mulch over the trenches will help prevent weed growth. Water regularly during the first two years after planting. Gardeners often grow asparagus from year-old crowns to speed crop production. Asparagus can be grown in part or full sun. The crown of the asparagus root should be at least 5-8 cm (2-3”) below the soil surface. Planting Asparagus Planting asparagus is best done using the trench method. Asparagus is extremely nutritious and has many health benefits! A great way to get the earliest cash crop in town or to extend your garden season. Store spears for up to two weeks in the refrigerator at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Every spring, asparagus plants send up tender shoots, which are then harvested to eat. A bed of asparagus plants provides an abundance of stalks for several weeks and keeps producing for many years. It produces medium to large (7-9"), green spears with purple bracts. Female flowers have well-developed, three-lobed pistils; male blossoms are larger and longer than female flowers. During the third season, pick the spears over a four-week period, and by the fourth year, extend your harvest to eight weeks. Starting asparagus from one-year-old crowns gives you a year’s head start over seed-grown plants. According to most historical accounts and online sources, the wild ancestor of asparagus was foraged and enjoyed principally by the ancient Greeks, and later the Romans around 200 B.C.E.. Beginning around that time, it was bred from a feral plant into the widespread, globally … Watch for spear emergence within a week. The Romans, especially, prized the vegetable. If you get a really bad attack of this then that section of asparagus is … © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Asparagus spears are highly perishable, so place them in a bowl filled with icy water immediately after picking. The season begins in May and can continue through June. Cover the fertilizer with a 1-inch layer of soil. Harvest spears when the plants are two to three years old. Twice the yield of old-fashioned kinds. The trench is gradually filled in as the plants grow. Select a planting site. The most common way to plant asparagus crowns is in a trench. There are two types of asparagus: all-male varieties like Jersey Giant, Jersey Supreme and Jersey Knight; or male/female varieties like Mary Washington. To harvest, cut asparagus spears with a sharp knife or snap off the spears at, or right below, ground level with your fingers. Combine your compost, fertilizer, or other organic matter, and create mounds with it about 18 inches apart. It is hardy even in sub zero weather and will crop for up to 20 years. Amend your soil the fall before planting asparagus crowns to boost potassium and phosphorus. These “all-male” asparagus varieties — including ‘Jersey Giant, 'Jersey Supreme’ and ‘Jersey Knight' — produce up to three times more than … 04--Jersey Supreme Asparagus Jersey Supreme is the first of the Jersey varieties to be ready for harvest, a full 7-10 days before Jersey Knight or Giant. The 'Jersey Giant' variety is an all male hybrid that is highly productive and very vigorous. To plant, begin by digging a trench 6″ deep and 8″ wide in the soil. With proper site selection, preparation, and care, it can thrive for 15 years or more. Jersey Giant F1 hybrid - this variety is a good choice for cold climates although it is perfectly happy in other climates too. Its energy goes into producing spears rather that seeds as with female plants. It takes patience to start your asparagus patch from seed, but there are advantages to gain from the extra wait. Jersey Giant Asparagus prefers well … If your asparagus bed does become infected by disease organisms, your best option is to start a new bed in a distant part of the garden, using newly purchased or grown plants. Gently loosen the roots and allow them to drape over the sides of the trenches. Drain off the water and seal the spears in plastic bags. ‘Jersey Knight’ is one of the more vigorous types of asparagus; highly resistant to asparagus diseases such as crown rot, rust and fusarium wilt. Place the crowns in the trenches 1½ to 2 feet apart; top them with 2 to 3 inches of soil. It … Planted new asparagus crowns 2 weeks ago, already getting growth in January. Jersey Giant produces an abundance of flavorful and succulent asparagus spears. Asparagus beetles, which chew on spears in spring and attack summer foliage, are the most prevalent problem. After removing any visible weeds, apply mulch to smother any remaining weeds, which compete with the young spears and reduce yields. It can be productive for 20 or more years if given proper care. Continue adding soil periodically until it is slightly mounded above surface level to allow for settling. (NJ56 x JN22-8) Patented. While the idea of growing asparagus may be overwhelming, it shouldn't be: Asparagus is a great starting point because it's one of the few perennial vegetables that'll grow fresh spears year after year with little space and effort. Most gardeners grow asparagus from crowns rather than seed. Most seed-grown asparagus plants eventually out-produce those started from roots. Female plants produce berries; males plants do not expend energy on berries so they can be up to three times more productive than female plants. Spears begin emerging at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. King holds an Associate of Arts in communications from Tarrant County College. It also tends to grow larger crops the older it is; by the fourth season, you should see a very large and full crop. Asparagus Seeds and Plants Grow asparagus and experience a far superior flavor and texture than store-bought. They are packaged six roots per bag. … With an all-male variety, 25 plants are usually adequate for a household of four; double that amount for standard varieties. In the spring, dig a trench about 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Apply 1/2-pound of an ammonium nitrate fertilizer per each 50-foot row at the end of the harvesting period. Fertilize in spring and fall by top-dressing with liquid fertilizer (such as compost tea) or side-dressing with a balanced fertilizer. 5 1 year old plants might set you back £17.50. It can tolerate some shade, but full sun produces more vigorous plants and helps minimize disease. I get my asparagus crowns from the good folks at … Asparagus needs well-drained soil and full sunlight. 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