Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with these 20 Jersey Supreme asparagus bare roots. Renowned for its exceptional productivity and culinary excellence, ‘Jersey Supreme’ is a top-tier choice for any home gardener eager to cultivate their own fresh asparagus. This particular variety, Asparagus officinalis, is an all-male hybrid, meaning it dedicates all its energy to producing spears rather than seeds, resulting in a significantly higher yield. These dormant bare-root crowns arrive ready for planting, offering a head start on establishing a long-lasting and prolific asparagus patch. The ‘Jersey Supreme’ is celebrated for its thick, tender, sweet, and slightly nutty-flavored spears, making it a gourmet delight right from your garden. Planting these asparagus bare roots is an investment that will provide delicious harvests for many years to come, transforming your garden into a source of fresh, vibrant produce.

The ‘Jersey Supreme’ stands out among asparagus varieties for its vigor and disease resistance, ensuring a robust and healthy crop. Its ability to thrive in various conditions makes it a versatile choice for gardeners across different regions. When you choose to plant Jersey Supreme asparagus bare roots, you’re opting for a reliable and rewarding vegetable that will elevate your home-grown meals. This variety is also known for its uniform spear size, which is highly desirable for both home use and potential market gardens. Prepare to enjoy the unparalleled taste and texture of freshly harvested asparagus, a true harbinger of spring.

Key Benefits

Integrating ‘Jersey Supreme’ asparagus into your garden offers a plethora of advantages, from abundant harvests to superior flavor. This variety is specifically bred for performance and taste, ensuring a delightful experience for any gardener or culinary enthusiast. The benefits extend beyond the plate, contributing to a more sustainable and fulfilling gardening practice.

• Exceptional Yield: As an all-male asparagus hybrid, ‘Jersey Supreme’ does not produce seeds, directing all its energy into spear production, leading to significantly higher yields compared to traditional varieties. This ensures a bountiful harvest for your family.
• Superior Flavor Profile: The spears are known for their thick, tender texture and a distinct sweet, slightly nutty flavor that is far superior to store-bought asparagus. Enjoy gourmet quality right from your backyard.
• Early & Prolonged Harvest: This variety typically emerges earlier in the spring and continues to produce over a longer season, extending your fresh asparagus enjoyment.
• Disease Resistance: ‘Jersey Supreme’ boasts strong resistance to common asparagus diseases such as rust and fusarium wilt, contributing to healthier plants and sustained productivity with minimal intervention. This makes growing asparagus bare roots easier.
• Longevity: Once established, an asparagus patch can produce for 15-20 years or more, making these Jersey Supreme asparagus bare roots a long-term investment in your edible garden.
• Nutritional Value: Asparagus is packed with vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as folate, iron, and potassium, offering numerous health benefits with every delicious spear.
• Easy to Grow: While requiring patience in the first few years, established asparagus plants are relatively low-maintenance, providing a consistent crop with proper care, making it a great option for those interested in asparagus plant care.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful cultivation of Jersey Supreme asparagus bare roots begins with proper site selection and soil preparation. Asparagus thrives in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a permanent location, as asparagus beds can produce for decades. The soil should be well-draining, loose, and rich in organic matter. A pH between 6.5 and 7.0 is ideal. Before planting, amend the soil deeply with compost or aged manure to improve fertility and drainage. Dig a trench about 12 inches wide and 6-8 inches deep. Create a small mound of soil at the bottom of the trench, and spread the roots of each bare root crown over the mound.

Space the crowns 12-18 inches apart within the trench, with rows 3-5 feet apart. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil, leaving the top of the crown exposed. As the spears grow, gradually fill the trench with soil until it is level with the surrounding ground. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the first year, but avoid waterlogging, which can lead to rot. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or a side dressing of compost. For optimal high-yield asparagus production, do not harvest any spears in the first two years after planting; allow the ferns to grow and photosynthesize, building up the plant’s energy reserves. In the third year, you can begin harvesting lightly for 2-4 weeks, gradually increasing the harvest period in subsequent years. Proper asparagus plant care ensures a healthy and productive patch.

Pest and disease management is crucial for maintaining a healthy asparagus patch. While ‘Jersey Supreme’ is disease-resistant, monitoring for common pests like asparagus beetles is important. Hand-picking beetles and larvae can be effective for small infestations. Ensure good air circulation around plants to minimize fungal issues. In fall, after the ferns have turned yellow, cut them back to about 2 inches above the ground. This helps prevent overwintering pests and diseases. A winter mulch of straw or leaves can protect the crowns in colder climates. Understanding growing asparagus bare roots involves patience and consistent care, but the rewards of fresh, home-grown asparagus are well worth the effort.

Size & Details

This offering includes 20 Jersey Supreme asparagus bare roots, which are dormant crowns ready for immediate planting. Each bare root is a mature, healthy crown, ensuring a strong start for your asparagus bed. When fully mature, ‘Jersey Supreme’ asparagus plants can reach a height of 3-5 feet with their fern-like foliage, creating an attractive backdrop in the garden. The spears themselves can grow to be thick and substantial, typically harvested when they are 6-10 inches tall and about half an inch to an inch in diameter. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning these bare roots will establish a patch that can produce for 15-20 years or more with proper care.

The growth rate of asparagus is moderate; while the crowns establish quickly, it takes two full growing seasons before you can begin harvesting. This initial waiting period is vital for the plant to build up the necessary energy reserves for sustained production. These bare roots are shipped without a pot, in their dormant state, which is the ideal condition for transplanting and minimizes shock. Expect your first light harvest in the third spring after planting, with full production commencing in the fourth year. This long-term investment provides a sustainable source of fresh, delicious vegetables, making growing asparagus bare roots a highly satisfying endeavor for any gardener.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this asparagus get? A: The fern-like foliage of mature ‘Jersey Supreme’ asparagus plants can reach 3-5 feet in height. The edible spears are typically harvested when they are 6-10 inches tall.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: These are Jersey Supreme asparagus bare roots, meaning they are dormant crowns shipped without a pot. This is the standard and most effective way to plant asparagus.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Asparagus is an outdoor perennial vegetable. It requires a permanent garden bed with full sun exposure to thrive and produce spears.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Asparagus needs full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for optimal growth and a high-yield asparagus harvest.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: While asparagus requires patience in the first two years as it establishes, mature plants are relatively low-maintenance. Consistent watering and annual fertilization are key aspects of good asparagus plant care.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: The 20 Jersey Supreme asparagus bare roots will arrive dormant and ready for planting. They will appear as a cluster of roots with a central crown.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these bare roots? A: The ideal time for growing asparagus bare roots is in early spring after the danger of hard frost has passed, as soon as the soil can be worked.
• Q: How long until it produces spears? A: You should not harvest any spears in the first two years to allow the plant to establish. A light harvest can begin in the third year, with full production by the fourth year.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: ‘Jersey Supreme’ asparagus is cold-hardy and generally thrives in USDA Zones 3-8. It requires a cold dormancy period to produce effectively.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: Established asparagus plants are very cold-hardy and can tolerate winter temperatures well below freezing, especially with a protective layer of mulch.