Dave's Garden - Gardening Community
HomeMy ToolsCommunitiesGuides and InformationProducts and SourcesAbout Dave's Garden

PlantFiles: Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis 'Mary Washington'

 
It's time to read and vote for your favorite article in the 2013 Write-Off Contest! The four finalist's articles are featured in the May 13 newsletter and can be found through this link. Hurry! Voting ends May 18.
  Welcome!  
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

  Login  
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

Username:

Password:


Family: Liliaceae (lil-ee-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Asparagus (a-SPARE-uh-gus) (Info)
Species: officinalis (oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss) (Info)
Cultivar: Mary Washington

6 vendors have this plant for sale.

10 members have or want this plant for trade.

Category:
Vegetables
Perennials

Height:
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)

Spacing:
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Danger:
N/A

Bloom Color:
Chartreuse (Yellow-Green)

Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer

Foliage:
Herbaceous

Other details:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)

Patent Information:
Non-patented

Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
From seed; direct sow after last frost

Seed Collecting:
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed

Click thumbnail
to view:

By art_n_garden
Thumbnail #1 of Asparagus officinalis by art_n_garden

By RebeccaLynn
Thumbnail #2 of Asparagus officinalis by RebeccaLynn

Profile:

5 positives
1 neutral
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

RatingAuthorComment
Positive RebeccaLynn On Apr 16, 2011, RebeccaLynn from Winston Salem, NC (Zone 7a) wrote:

This is the 9th spring for my asparagus bed and it just gets better and better! I began with a dozen Mary Washington crowns because that was the only variety locally available. Over the years I have continued to build up the bed with leafy compost, cow manure, and rotted sawdust. I have also added Jersey Knight and Purple Passion which I ordered from catalogs. We have had plentiful rains this spring and and we are cutting an abundance ot beautiful speers every other day. The bed is about 5' x 16' which is perfect for a family of 4 and enough for sharing with neighbors.

Neutral Farmerdill On Mar 31, 2006, Farmerdill from Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

Shoots are thick, straight, dark green and tinged purple at the tightly folded tips.

Plant this perennial vegetable just once and enjoy the spears for years.

Positive Gabrielle On Jan 25, 2006, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote:

My Mom and I are asparagus lovers, and I have been growing 'Mary Washington' for several years now. We are both very happy with the flavor, though I can't wait for it to get a better stand!

I have read that asparagus is hardy in zones 3-10. Asparagus likes a lot of mulch, so in late fall I put a lot of shredded leaves and compost on it.

Positive Gindee77 On Jun 24, 2005, Gindee77 from Hampton, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:

As long as you use plenty of organic matter when you plant these roots, you will get a good stand before you know it.

Positive Terry On Apr 29, 2003, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

Second year for my plants, and they are proving to be very hardy and prolific. Can't wait to start eating some asparagus in earnest next year!

Positive mdgmom On Apr 27, 2003, mdgmom from Montville, NJ wrote:

Perennial grown for tender edible new shoots that appear in early spring. I put in twelve crowns last spring and let them go to flower and seed over the summer. About three fruited (red berries form along the stem)-- this is supposed to be a variety with fewer females ie. more shoot-forming energy, less seed-forming. This spring I already have about a dozen 1 cm x 15 cm spears-- they are delicious! Needs a permanent dedicated spot-- mine are in part shade.

Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

, (2 reports)
Fayetteville, Arkansas
St Petersburg, Florida
Dasher, Georgia
Hampton, Illinois
Foxborough, Massachusetts
Belding, Michigan
Marietta, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Corvallis, Montana
White Horse, New Jersey
Cary, North Carolina
Winston-salem, North Carolina
Scappoose, Oregon
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Everman, Texas
Godley, Texas



We recommend Firefox
Overwhelmed? There's a lot to see here. Try starting at our homepage.

[ Home | About | Advertise | Mission | Featured Companies | Submit an Article | Terms of Use | Tour | Rules | Privacy Policy | Contact Us ]

Back to the top

Copyright © 2000-2013 Dave's Garden, an Internet Brands company. All Rights Reserved.
 

Hope for America