Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with 20 Jersey Giant Asparagus bare roots. This exceptional variety, known scientifically as asparagus officinalis, is a favorite among both home gardeners and commercial growers for its impressive productivity and robust nature. The ‘Jersey Giant’ is an all-male hybrid, which means it dedicates all its energy to producing delicious spears rather than seeds, resulting in higher yields of thick, flavorful asparagus. These bare roots are ready to be planted in your garden, promising years of fresh, homegrown produce. Its excellent disease resistance makes it a reliable choice for various climates, ensuring a successful harvest season after season. Get ready to enjoy the unparalleled taste of freshly picked asparagus right from your backyard.

The ‘Jersey Giant’ is celebrated for its vigorous growth and adaptability, thriving in a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions. This particular offering provides 20 individual bare roots, giving you a substantial start to your asparagus patch. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning once established, it will return year after year, providing a long-term investment in your culinary adventures. These asparagus plants are an ideal choice for anyone looking to establish a bountiful and resilient asparagus bed.

Key Benefits

Choosing Jersey Giant Asparagus bare roots for your garden offers a multitude of advantages, making it a top selection for discerning growers.

• High Yields: As an all-male hybrid, the ‘Jersey Giant’ focuses all its energy on spear production, resulting in significantly higher yields compared to traditional varieties. You’ll enjoy an abundance of fresh asparagus for many seasons.
• Thick, Flavorful Spears: These plants are renowned for producing uniformly thick, tender, and exceptionally flavorful spears, perfect for grilling, steaming, roasting, or enjoying raw in salads.
• Excellent Disease Resistance: The ‘Jersey Giant’ boasts strong resistance to common asparagus diseases such as Fusarium wilt and rust, leading to healthier plants and more consistent harvests. This makes it a reliable choice for those looking to grow asparagus without constant worry.
• Long Lifespan: Once established, an asparagus bed can produce for 15-20 years or even longer, offering a perennial source of fresh vegetables with minimal annual effort.
• Adaptability: This variety is highly adaptable to various climate zones and soil conditions, making it a versatile option for gardeners across the US. Its resilience ensures success in diverse environments.
• Easy to Grow from Bare Roots: Planting bare roots is a straightforward process, allowing for quick establishment and vigorous growth in your garden. These asparagus plants are designed for ease of planting and long-term success.
• Commercial and Home Garden Approved: Its proven performance in both commercial and home settings highlights its reliability and superior quality, making it a trusted choice for anyone looking for high-yielding asparagus.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Growing Jersey Giant Asparagus bare roots requires a bit of patience initially, but the long-term rewards are well worth it. Asparagus thrives in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a permanent location in your garden, as asparagus beds can produce for decades. Prepare your soil by amending it with plenty of organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to ensure good drainage and fertility. Asparagus prefers a soil pH between 6.5 and 7.0. Dig a trench about 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep, creating a mound of soil down the center.

Place the asparagus crowns (bare roots) on top of the mounds, spreading the roots out evenly. Space crowns about 12-18 inches apart in the trench. Cover the crowns with about 2 inches of soil, and water thoroughly. As the spears grow, gradually fill in the trench with more soil until it’s level with the surrounding ground. Keep the bed free of weeds, which can compete with young asparagus plants for nutrients and water. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost to support vigorous growth and high-yielding asparagus production. These asparagus plants are hardy and with proper care, will provide abundant harvests.

Protect young plants from pests and diseases by monitoring regularly and addressing issues promptly. While ‘Jersey Giant’ offers excellent disease resistance, good cultural practices further ensure plant health. Avoid harvesting in the first year to allow the crowns to establish a strong root system. In the second year, you can harvest for a short period (2-3 weeks), gradually increasing the harvest duration in subsequent years. Once established, the ferny foliage should be allowed to grow throughout the summer to replenish energy in the roots for the next season. Cut back the dead ferns in late fall or early winter. This care routine will help you successfully grow asparagus for many years.

Size & Details

This offering includes 20 Jersey Giant Asparagus bare roots, providing a robust start to your asparagus patch. Each bare root is a dormant crown, approximately 1-2 years old, ready for planting upon arrival. When mature, ‘Jersey Giant’ asparagus plants typically produce spears that are 6-9 inches long and about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, though some can grow even larger. The full ferny foliage can reach heights of 3-5 feet during the growing season. These bare roots are shipped without a pot, in their dormant state, which is the ideal time for transplanting to minimize shock and ensure successful establishment. Expect the first light harvest in the second year after planting, with full production achieved by the third year. This perennial vegetable will continue to yield for 15-20 years with proper care, making it a long-term investment in your garden and kitchen. The asparagus officinalis variety is known for its vigorous growth rate once established.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Jersey Giant Asparagus bare roots get? A: Each offering includes 20 Jersey Giant Asparagus bare roots. Once mature, the plants will produce spears typically 6-9 inches long and 1/2-3/4 inches thick. The ferny foliage can reach 3-5 feet tall.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? How much sunlight does it need? A: Asparagus is an outdoor perennial vegetable. It requires a permanent location with full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, to thrive and produce a good harvest.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: While asparagus requires some initial patience and bed preparation, it is relatively easy to care for once established. Its perennial nature means less work each year. It is a good choice for beginners willing to invest in the initial setup and wait for the first harvest.
• Q: What condition will the bare roots arrive in? Is it shipped in soil? A: The Jersey Giant Asparagus bare roots will arrive dormant, without soil or a pot. This is the optimal condition for planting and ensures the roots are ready to establish quickly in your garden.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these bare roots? A: The ideal time to plant asparagus bare roots is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the plants to establish before the heat of summer.
• Q: How long until I can harvest from these asparagus plants? A: It is recommended to wait until the second year after planting for a light harvest (2-3 weeks). Full production, providing an abundance of high-yielding asparagus, is typically achieved by the third year.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? What’s the minimum temperature? A: Jersey Giant Asparagus bare roots are very hardy and typically thrive in USDA Zones 3-10. They are well-adapted to cold winters, going dormant and re-emerging in spring.
• Q: Do I need to buy male or female plants? A: ‘Jersey Giant’ is an all-male hybrid. All-male varieties are preferred because they don’t produce seeds, allowing the plant to put all its energy into producing more and thicker spears, making it a truly high-yielding asparagus.
• Q: Can I grow asparagus in containers? A: While possible, growing asparagus in containers is challenging due to its extensive root system. It’s generally recommended for in-ground planting to allow for optimal growth and yield from your asparagus plants.
• Q: What kind of soil is best to grow asparagus? A: Asparagus prefers well-draining, fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. Amending the soil with plenty of organic matter before planting is crucial for success with asparagus officinalis.