Asparagus officinalis ( Asparagus Mary Washington ) is a perennial plant commonly grown around the world as a vegetable. It is native to Europe and temperate regions of western Asia and has been used for centuries in traditional medicines.
Asparagus Mary Washington is an heirloom female variety that produces larger green stalks a little bit earlier in the season. Asparagus can be eaten raw in salads, used as an appetizer or side dish, and is often pickled which can last several years.
Growth
Asparagus officinalis is a common vegetable that grows to a height of 1.5 m (5 feet). It performs well in a range of soils and climates. Seeds or crowns can be used to propagate new plants but are best started when soil temperatures consistently surpass 15°C / 60°F. Asparagus officinalis can be started in pots, but final position should be in a raised garden bed or directly in the ground.
This variety produces an earlier crop of that is slightly larger in size than the average. Asparagus takes around one year to begin fruiting but it’s recommended to remove flowers until the third full season.
Asparagus is a good companion plant for tomatoes, parsley and basil and can continue to produce for around 20 years.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Asparagaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold, Temperate, Sub Tropical, Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
15 to 30°C / 60 to 85°F
SOIL TYPE:
High nutrient/compost and ideally a hole of up to 75 cm dug to allow for deep roots.
LOCATION:
Full Sun.
HEIGHT:
Up to 1.5m (5 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 60 cm (2 feet)
pH:
6.5-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Perennial.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Light
POLLINATION:
Bees. Requires male and female plants to produce seed.
MATURITY:
2-3 years depending on climate.
GERMINATION RATES:
55-65%
GERMINATION TIME:
3-4 weeks
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Easy
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 30 seeds
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
EDIBLE:
Yes
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 3 years.
FACTS ABOUT ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS (Asparagus)
In Worcestershire, England there is an annual Asparafest music festival and an Asparagus Run.
The world record for the time taken to peel a ton of asparagus is 16 hours.
Asparagus is high in Vitamin K and is a good source of folate and phosphorous.
China harvests almost 8 million tonnes of Asparagus each year and is by far the world’s largest producer.
The Mother Stalk Method, used widely in Asia, allows three to five stalks per plant to develop on the plant while harvesting younger spears.
