Not all asparagus is created equal. Jersey Male Hybrid Asparagus varieties are tender and mouth-watering—and taste nothing like the bland, stringy spears found in supermarkets.

Jersey Male Hybrid Asparagus varieties have outperformed all others in recent nationwide studies and trials. Because asparagus is a long-term perennial crop, it is important to choose your plant variety well.

The Advantages of Jersey Male Hybrids:

High Yields - Jersey Male Hybrid Asparagus varieties have consistently produced the highest yields, as much as four times greater than the older male/female varieties.

Disease Tolerance - Jersey Male Hybrid Asparagus varieties were specially bred for their high tolerance to the most common diseases that affect asparagus: Fusarium crown rot, Fusarium root rot, Rust, and Cercospera.

Less Weeding - Female plants produce berries, which grow seedlings called volunteers or weeds. Once established, these seedlings attract insects and diseases, and they compete with the mother plant for nutrients and moisture. Since male plants do not produce berries, they require much less weeding and chemical control.

Jersey Male Hybrid Asparagus crowns are now available in three popular varieties known for yield, flavor, performance and dependability.

Because Asparagus beds can produce spears for 15 to 30 years, it should be planted at the edge or end of the garden.

Asparagus spears will start to emerge when the soil temperature reaches 50 degrees F. The rule of thumb has always said that you should wait until the second year to harvest your asparagus. The harvest season will continue for approximately 4-6 weeks on a new bed and 6-8 weeks for an asparagus bed that is three years old and older.

The amount of asparagus to grow depends upon the amount of people that it will be feeding and whether it will just be eaten fresh, frozen or canned. Normally 10 crowns will provide one person with fresh asparagus for the season. Plant 20 asparagus crowns per person if you are planning on freezing or canning the asparagus spears.

Research has shown that the crowns will grow more vigorously when Triple Superphosphate is applied when planting, it will not burn the crowns. Additional feedings can be done monthly with Neptune's Harvest. Complete planting instructions are included.

For more helpful information on planting asparagus, see our growing tips page. We also have a short video on how easy it is to plant asparagus crowns.

Asparagus Plants Start Shipping May 2011