Asparagus, Mary Washington (Asparagus officinalis) - 50 Seeds

•Heirloom
•Non-GMO
•Perennial
•American grown seeds
•USDA Zones: 3-9

Description:
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, so you just plant them once and enjoy season after season of succulent spears. Seeds can be started indoors in spring for transplanting out around last frost. Bare roots can be planted as soon as they arrive in spring. Rooted plants are great for fall and should be planted 4-6 weeks before first fall frost. In 2 years, you'll have a light crop and a regular crop thereafter. Long after harvest, the graceful, feathery green foliage is still attractive. Zones 3-8.

Growing Instructions:
Mary Washington Asparagus is a hardy garden vegetable whose seeds can be initially sown indoors, between mid-February and May. Using a 1.5" deep pot, sow the Asparagus seeds .5" deep and 2" apart. After 10-12 weeks, you can transplant the Asparagus starts outdoors in your vegetable garden, so long as there is no frost. In your garden, dig a 6-12" deep, 18" wide trench. Spreading a 1" 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 1" 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.