Up to 140 days. Heirloom, non-gmo, open pollinated. Perennial. Mary Washington Asparagus seeds can be grown into a hardy vegetable and is fairly easy to grow as a garden vegetable in a variety of climates, from zone three all the way up to nine. The Mary Washington Asparagus is the traditional variety which consists of both male and female stalks, and is resistant to rust fungi, which can harm other varieties of Asparagus. Patience is required when growing Asparagus, as they need two to three years before producing quality spears.
Growing Mary Washington Asparagus From Seeds
- Latin Name: Asparagus officinalis
- Other Names:
- Days to Plant Maturity: 140 days
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Seed Planting Depth: 6-12"
- Plant Spacing:
- Row Spacing: 18"
- Growth Habit: Upright
- Soil Preference: Dry, sandy, PH 6.5 and above, good to have one inch layer of compost at bottom of trench
- Temp Preference: Warmer
- Light Preference: Full sun is optimum, but it can grow with partial shade
- Resistances: Drought
- Vegetable Color: Green with purple tips
- Flavor: Has been described as a bright flavor with an earthy undertone
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Seeds Per Package:
- 3 g - Approximately 90 Seeds
- 1 oz - Approximately 1,200 Seeds
- 4 oz - Approximately 4,800 Seeds
- 1 lb - Approximately 19,200 Seeds
- 5 lb - Approximately 96,000 Seeds
Mary Washington Asparagus is a hardy garden vegetable whose seeds can be initially sown indoors, between mid-February and May. Using a one and a half inch deep pot, sow the Asparagus seeds half an inch deep and two inches apart. After ten to twelve weeks, you can transplant the Asparagus starts outdoors in your vegetable garden, so long as there is no frost. In your garden, dig a six to twelve inch deep, eighteen inch wide trench. Spreading a one inch layer of compost at the bottom of the trench is recommended. Cover the crowns with soil.
As the Asparagus crowns grow, keep them covered with soil and give one inch of water a week. Take care not to give too much water, as soil that stays wet can cause the roots to rot and will produce brown, soft spears. During the first year, you must exercise patience and resist the temptation to harvest. In the second year, you may harvest the Asparagus spears for two weeks when they are the thickness of a pencil. The following year, increase harvesting to four weeks. After that, you may harvest for eight weeks. Mary Washington Asparagus Seeds. Heirloom, non-gmo.