Mary Washington Asparagus – 20 Seeds

Mary Washington Asparagus Seeds. The Mary Washington (Asparagus officinalis) variety of asparagus is one of the most commonly grown thanks to its thick, juicy spears and resistance to rust, which commonly plagues asparagus plants.
It is a perennial vegetable growing to 150cm. Long, straight, green spears with purple/green tip. Mary Washington have male and female flowers on separate plants. Male flowers are larger and longer than female. Males plants do not have to expend energy in producing flowers and fruit and typically produce better crop yields. Plants eventually grow into towering ferns in the summer and then die off after frost and are dormant during the winter. Female plants produce red berries in late summer that will drop in autumn. The fine fern like foliage makes it a natural for edible landscaping.

This perennial vegetable is harvested in spring, producing a high yield of tender spears from a rhizome crown. Outstanding flavor. Can be used raw or cooked. Considered a gourmet food.

Growing Mary Washington Asparagus

• Prefers loose, deep soils high in organic matter.
• Prefers pH near 7.0, but tolerates a wide range. Add lime and fertilizer to the garden bed before establishment.
• Can be grown in full sun to partial afternoon shade
• Sow Indoors: Start your Mary Washington Asparagus Seeds indoors 3–4 months prior to the average last frost.
• Fill a 1 1/2-inch-deep seed flat with sterile potting soil and sow the seeds 1/2-inch deep and 2 inches apart in the flat.
• Water the potting soil to keep it moist and grow in a sunny window for one year before transplanting to a permanent bed outdoors.
• Sow Outdoors: Transplant seedlings outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked. If planting seeds directly outdoors, wait until all chance of frost has passed.
• The seed should be sown in fairly deep furrows and the furrows should be filled up to allow the crowns to be 10cm beneath the soil surface.
• Water during dry spells during the first year. Do not over water as plants don’t tolerate water-logged soils.
• Midsummer mulching will help to control weeds and keep soil from drying out.
• Regularly apply compost or well-rotted manure to provide a steady source of nutrients.
• Keep the planting bed around asparagus free of weeds and clean up all plant debris in autumn.
• Do not cut back ferns in Autumn until they die naturally.