This is because female plants expend tremendous energy producing seeds and small, weedy seedlings that compete with established asparagus plants. SKU. The varieties Viking KB-3, Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, and other members of the Jersey line tolerate crown rot. - A variety with good disease resistance, great yields, great flavour To find books, courses, seeds, gardening supplies, and more, check out The Shop at Greenupside! Rows should not be spaced closer than three feet, as the asparagus plants will widen as they mature, reducing walking space between rows. This variety also resists asparagus rust and fusarium rot, and is one of the most winter hardy varieties. Plants suffering from crown rot have poor growth. According to Werling and Carl Cantaluppi (retired asparagus researcher, North Carolina Extension), other varieties to consider in addition to Millennium include: All varieties listed above are hybrids. One of the New Jersey asparagus hybrids, Jersey Knight is extremely vigorous, has large, succulent spears, and quickly attracts a loyal following. It can grow in most types of climates and it can be harvested once the stalks are pencil-thin. Asparagus is typically planted as crowns, rather than seeds. Production/quality. Growers planning a new asparagus field should prepare the field in the year prior to planting. With a smooth appearance and nice, even stalks, this type of asparagus is dark green in color and does best in either warm or cool climates. 5 Jersey Knight Asparagus Bare Root Crowns -Green Asparagus - Planting Ornaments Perennial Garden Simple to Grow Pots Gifts. Make sure you get the right one! Add recommended fertilizer based on the soil test results. This pale green, disease-resistant asparagus is both male and female. It usually grows between seven and nine inches long and is very meaty and tasty. Healthy, dense cover crops can help outcompete weeds, without disturbing the soil through cultivation. It is also a very sturdy type of asparagus. Asparagus will spread as it grows. Jersey Giant - this green hybrid asparagus variety has good disease resistance and is mostly male, but the plants are not heat-tolerant, so you may need to harvest when the spears are a bit shorter to avoid tough spears and ferning. UC 157 This is a hybrid asparagus that performs well in warmer climates. It prefers full sun and the plant itself can get up to three feet in height. Use caution with this step, as large clods of dry soil can break the brittle spears. I think the "Jersey" designation means they are all-male varieties? The long thick The spears are not heat resistant, but Jersey Giant is well adapted to the South, as is evident by its inclusion on the recommended varieties list of ten Southern states' university . I get more/better spears, and they seem to handle insects a little better--not as much witches broom. Asparagus rust causes yellow and rusty orange spots to form on asparagus stems after harvest. This type of asparagus was developed in 1978 and is one of the most popular types of asparagus, if not the most common. Precoce DArgenteuil asparagus is an heirloom variety that is popular in Europe for its sweet stalks, each topped with an attractive, rosy pink tip. Good soil moisture is important at planting for good root and fern growth. It originated in Europe, North Africa, and West Asia and has been consumed for more than 2,000 years. It also performs equally well in heavy, clay-like soils. Best if grown in zones 3-10, this type of asparagus does well even in cold climates and is high in vitamins A, B6, and C. The Jersey Supreme, a fairly new variety, is also resistant to disease and produces a little earlier than the Knight or Giant does. Our Asparabuddie of Hargreaves Plants who are major suppliers of asparagus crowns to growers and have an extensive testing program sent us six asparagus varieties to compare. See the photo below: An asparagus plant can last 15 years. The preharvest intervals for these two fungicides are 180 and 0 days . Add the fertilizer alongside the row of plants and scratch it in lightly. I think both. Some of them are heat tolerant so the spears will resist becoming tough and ferning in summer. Related:How to Store Asparagus | Side Dishes for Ham | What to Serve with Shepherds Pie | Vegetables and Herbs for Symbiotic Farming | Broccoli Alternatives. Martha Washington However, male plants must also be present for the seed pods to appear. Since asparagus trials require daily harvest and data collection for around 6 weeks per year over multiple years, the logistics of collecting quality data for such a large endeavor must be carefully considered and weighed against other urgent research priorities. A new asparagus bed may take several years before abundant, thick spears are produced. and great flavour. Do not allow the tool to penetrate the soil more than an inch deep, to avoid harming the underground portions of the plants. The Jersey Knight is resistant to many diseases including rust, crown rot, and fusarium wilt, among others. yield for a non hybrid. After I read the info, still do not see the big differences between them. If you want to read some of my most popular posts, check out the Best of GreenUpSide page here. The Jersey Knight Hybrid Asparagus was developed in the 1980s by researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. Prolonging the time between planting and covering can cause the roots of the crowns to dry out. Another modern hybrid is Jersey Knight, which has become a standard variety for gardeners, especially in the North. The Viking KB3 asparagus is a fairly new variety and combines both male and female plants. Consisting of both male and female plants, the Purple Passion asparagus actually gets lighter in color when you cook it. another Dutch variety not quite as highly recommended as the Gijnlim. Mulching: Straw and leaves can be used for mulch in asparagus beds to help smother weeds. We recently confirmed that Walker Brothers, the producer of Jersey asparagus crowns, has stopped propagating the Jersey Knight, Jersey Giant, and Jersey Supreme varieties. After that, the spears become tough and fibrous as they start to fern out. It is also both a male and a female plant. spears up to 2cm thick and a high tolerance to Fusarium - crown and root The Jersey Giant is hardy and does well in most climates, including chilly and cool ones. Some gardeners will not harvest during the second year at all, preferring to allow the plants to build more strength before finally beginning to harvest in the third year. With its large, tasty spears, you can serve Jersey Giant asparagus alone as a green vegetable with little or no adornments, or as part of a more complex dish. As asparagus plants age, they will send up more spears, since it has a larger crown and larger energy reserves. Several high performing hybrid asparagus varieties are still available for growers to order. This came as a surprise to us, as previous information had suggested that these varieties would still be available for a couple more years. Be sure to think carefully about which variety or range of varieties will suit your growing conditions best if you are thinking of planting an asparagus bed. For example, Rutgers University released the "Jersey line" of male hybrids (e.g., Jersey Giant, Jersey Supreme, Jersey King and Jersey Knight). Until the last two decades, types of asparagus consisted of a mix of male and female plants. In heavy clay soils, the furrow depth may be reduced to six inches, and in sandy soils, the depth may be increased to no more than 12 inches. Asparagus growing in sandy soil should be watered more than once per week in the absence of rain, and heavy clay soils may not need to be watered as often. The fact it is slightly later is a plus for me as my spears often get nipped by late frost. Full Sun 6 Hours Direct Sun Perennials. crowns of each of four varieties of asparagus plant to give a good Perennial weeds like Canada thistle and quack grass thrive in asparagus because it is a perennial crop that is rarely cultivated or tilled. to mid season and has an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Jersey Giant Jersey Supreme Open-pollinated varieties for Minnesota Mary Washington Martha Washington Purple Passion Choosing a planting site for asparagus Since asparagus is a long-lived perennial crop, proper site selection is important. University of Minnesota Extension discovers science-based solutions, delivers practical education, and engages Minnesotans to build a better future. Some are all-male varieties that produce lots of spears. Cultivation is most effective on small, young weed seedlings and is not likely to control perennial weeds or large, established annual weeds. It is pale green in color and very resistant to various diseases. For several years, University researchers have recommended the "all-male" hybrids from Rutgers, including 'Jersey Giant', 'Jersey Knight' and 'Jersey . These roots grow tall stalks that can yield up to 3-4 times more asparagus than other varieties. Hybrid varieties are mostly all-male plants, so planting hybridsminimizes the issue of re-seeding. Spears are the newly emerged stems of the plant. Additionally, researchers in Michigan also report consistently higher yields from Millennium along with better stand longevity across extensive planted acreage. Thielim F1 hybrid - Early to crop and with a good yield this hybrid is a recent introduction that is less susceptible to Botrytis. The Jersey Series asparagus is a hybrid variety of all-male plants and includes Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, and Jersey Supreme. An asparagus plants ferns (above ground) have a width of 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 centimeters). All your asparagus growing questions resolved. It comes from Canada and has excellent tolerance to cold winters. - this variety is a good choice for cold climates although it is Backlim F1 hybrid is Hey you can sign up for our weekly gardening newsletter here! Grow your own vegetables. Asparagus spears are crisp, tender and flavorful. New to Amazon. They lose We are certainly interested in learning more about how these hybrid varieties compare when grown across Minnesota, specifically USDA zones 3 and 4. Needless to say we didn't all agree! For example, if you have 10 crowns, dig a 10-foot long trench. Asparagus spears begin to grow from the crown early in the spring. In fact, male asparagus is favored so much more that there are now new hybridized male asparagus plants that produce larger yields. voted the best in commercial grower tests in 2006. In addition to having a higher yield the male plants have no seeds to drop and seeds produce seedlings that will affect the size and yield of spears produced by the planted crowns. Buy the best from our Asparagus Farm that digs your roots fresh every day. It was developed by Rutgers University in New Jersey as part of the Jersey series, yielding mostly male plants. Food Gardening Network and Food Gardening Magazine are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC. Cold-hardy, and overwinters to zone-3. Get it Wed, Jun 29 - Wed, Jul 6. If your soil test shows that the garden is high in phosphorus, use a low phosphorus fertilizer such as 32-3-10, 27-3-3, or 25-3-12, or use a non-phosphorus fertilizer such as 30-0-10 or 24-0-15 at the rate of pound per 100 square feet. It has good resistance to rust, fusarium and crown rot, as well as medium green, large spears with good yields and taste. Cover crops: In larger patches, perennial cover crops (groundcover plants) can be planted between asparagus rows. Amending the soil pH and organic matter based on the soil test. Stewarts Purple Some very old publications and online gardening blogs may say to spread out the roots of the crowns like an octopus during planting, but this is an outdated, unnecessary practice. - If you live in the north of England this may be the variety for you. Soil pH ideally between 6.5-7.0. In addition to soil quality, the slope of the land also impacts soil water drainage. Your email address is private. a "Weed and Feed"-type product), as it may kill your vegetable plants. It goes dormant earlier in the fall and wakes up more slowly in the spring, reducing the risk of late fall and early spring frost damage. Soil moisture is importantfor good root and fern growth in asparagus. Two-Story 5-Bedroom Mountain Home with a Bar (Floor Plan), Homestratosphere's Editorial Staff & Writers, Vegetables and Herbs for Symbiotic Farming, earlier than many other types of asparagus, The Ultimate Guide to Bedding: Understanding the Differences Between Duvets, Comforters, Blankets and Quilts, Get Cozy: 24 Trending Rustic-Style Primary Bedroom Ideas to Transform Your Space, Craftsman Style and Comfort Combine in Ranch Floor Plan Featuring Open Concept Living, 14 Laundry Detergent Alternatives that Skip the Harmful Chemicals, Craftsman-Style Ranch Floor Plan Features Timber Accents and Large Kitchen. Hi, I'm Jon. Apollo This asparagus type performs well in both chilly and warm weather conditions. It also produces a large crop and is very sturdy. Viking is known to produce large yields. support@foodgardening.mequoda.com. Jersey Giant Asparagus is a male hybrid garden plant. 2023 Enjoy! January 06, 2021 In summary: The producer of asparagus crowns for asparagus varieties Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, and Jersey Supreme has stopped propagating these varieties. Continuous use of high phosphorus fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 15-30-15, or high rates of manure or compost can result in phosphorus buildup in the soil that impacts soil and plant health over time. Jersey King or Jersey Knight although not quite so many as Jersey King. The best you can hope for is some tolerance for the common fungus issues of rust and fusarium that exist in all soils and as with most fungus diseases, weather is the enemy we have to contend with there, not the variety. learn more about Jersey Supreme asparagus from Stark Brothers. Item #305537. Purple spotcauses sunken purple spots on asparagus spears, and tan spots with a purple border on mature stems. It grows vigorously Male plants grow a greater number of smaller, uniform spears. Usually, you harvest asparagus during late spring, in May and into June. Atlas Atlas is a vigorous variety that performs well in hot weather. These buds and roots are called crowns. If spears are left to grow, they develop leaves and are called ferns. Asparagus harvest is only two months instead of the entire season, because the plants need a chance to let the ferns grow in order to recover and build up energy for the next year. Jersey Knight Asparagus Plant Asparagus 'Jersey Knight'. NOTE: #1 bare root size is around 6" tall and wide. Read the label of the herbicide carefully before applying it to ensure that it is permitted for use in asparagus, and follow all label instructions for application. In the absence of a soil test report, the typical garden fertilizer rate for asparagus is to apply 1 to 1.5 pounds of a 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium fertilizer (10-10-10) per 100 square feet before planting. According to Ben Werling, Michigan State University vegetable Extension Educator, Millennium is better adapted to cold climates than Do not use herbicides when spears or ferns are present, as this will damage the plants. Using herbicides in garden-scale asparagus patches. Full Sun 6 Hours Direct Sun Plant Bulbs. than Jersey Giant so you can extend your season by planting both. learn more about Jersey Knight asparagus from Stark Brothers. I'm in Zone 6, temperate or cold? I have 2 boxes(4 x 16) of 4 yr old Martha and Jersey. Delicate fresh flavor. The crown and root system can grow to a diameter of 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter. Ariane - produces lots of large spears early in the season. Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, Jersey Prince, Syn 53, Syn 4-362, UC 157 and Viking KBC are new hybrids with larger yields. It is a sturdy plant that produces large crops and it is a very tasty vegetable that can be harvested early. Asparagus spears can as tall as 7 feet (2.1 meters) high. perfectly happy in other climates too. Some Minnesota growers use custom equipment to dig furrows, while most others use a single-bottom plow or a potato hilling disk. It The site for the asparagus nursery should be level and have sandy soil. They grow well in sandy soils as well as in heavier clay soils. It can grow in heavy, medium, or sandy soils, as long as the soils must be well-drained and do not exhibit pooling water after rains. Jersey Series This all-male series of hybrid asparagus varieties include Jersey Giant, a hardy plant that performs well in chilly climates. It is one of the few perennial vegetables grown in Minnesota; others include horseradish and rhubarb. Then again, they are slightly later to emerge. Wild asparagus can usually be harvested in early spring and it is found frequently in western Europe and Great Britain, mostly on coastal dunes and cliffs as well as open grassy areas near seas. The Washington series: Mary Washington and Martha Washington. copyright 2023 Mequoda Systems, LLC Again with an RHS Award of Garden Merit this variety has a high Cultivating in the spring allows for the addition of fertilizer to the soil, but can also stimulate the growth of weed seeds that were previously buried. This also has potential implications for asparagus beetle; ferns that go dormant earlier in the fall may be cut earlier, reducing the risk of asparagus beetle overwintering. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); With your FREEBIE, youll also receive regular email messages from the Food Gardening Network. This productive variety will give you impressive yields each and every year. Typical cost 15 for 10 If they have not received an inch ofrain in the last week, soak the soil with water. A good guideline is to cut asparagus spears for eating when they reach a height of 6 to 10 inches (15.2 to 25.4 centimeters). The UC 157 asparagus is hybrid asparagus that does very well in warmer climates. After the asparagus patch is established, fertilizer, compost, or composted manure can be added either in early spring before spear emergence, or after harvest in late June or early July. Another reason for its high cost is the fact that it costs a lot of money just to produce it, which has to be passed on to consumers. The spears are very very tender and are purple when harvested. We understand that many Minnesota asparagus growers have been relying on these varieties, and that the discontinuation of the Jersey varieties may be seen as an inconvenience. I hope you found this article helpful. All rights reserved. While all the Jersey varieties as well as Mellenium and even Purple Passion routinely surpass the old varieties of Martha and Mary Washington they still require good soil, proper spacing, sufficient and timely nutrient and water support, and careful pest control. The edible part of the asparagus plant is called the spear. Tolerant of rust and fusarium, the UC 157 asparagus is uniform in both size and color and it is a perfect type of asparagus to grow commercially because of its high yields. Asparagus is a unique crop. All of the furrows may be dug before the first crowns are laid down. good in poorer soils and is an all male variety of asparagus. Although commercial production in the United States is concentrated in California, Washington and Michigan, Minnesota's climate and soils provide an excellent environment for growing asparagus. In larger patches with multiple rows, the aisles between the rows can be mulched using wood chips, straw, or landscape fabric. best. plants but the predominance of high yielding male plants is what marks While annual vegetable crops can be moved if the first planting site doesnt work, asparagus cannot. It is very vigorous and high yielding. Cucumber Trellises (5 Ways To Support Cucumber Vines). supplier claims it is good for freezing, we will have to test this Do not let the crowns dry out between placing them in the furrows and covering them with soil. asparagus, asparagus rust, jersey giant asparagus, jersey knight, Your email address will not be published. The edible parts of the plant are called the spears. Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable so long-lived, in fact, that some types of asparagus survive for 20 to 30 years. (800) 777-2658. Copyright 2018 Asparagus-lover.com all rights reserved, Left to right - Pacific Purple, Pacific 2000 and Mondeo. Choose its spot in the garden carefully. Immediately after laying the crowns in the furrows, cover them by back-filling the furrow with 2-3 inches of soil. On the planting day, begin by digging furrows (trenches) for the crowns. Specific epithet means sold in shops and was applied to plants with supposed medicinal properties. Of course that is what we'd all love to have. Asparagus is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to theAsparagaceae family. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Asparagus crowns should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep in light, sandy soils, but only 4 to 6 inches deep in heavier soils. The most common insect pests on asparagus in Minnesota are the common and spotted asparagus beetles. I planted about 20 feet of one of the Jerseys at least 12 years ago and they are all male; I've never had a single seedling. this strong growing variety is an American favourite. We have our own Asparagus Growing Expert ready to answer any questions we can't answer so ask away. Nitrogen should be added after planting, once the crowns begin growing. Jersey Giant asparagus is one of a group of three popular "Jersey" asparagus series, including Jersey Knight and Jersey Supreme. High yields; produces very little to no seed. Rust can be controlled with sprays of myclobutanil or sulfur. If they show up while I am still harvesting I flick them into a bucket-o-water. The length of the trench should be as long as the number of crowns being planted. It is also a very tender type of asparagus, much more so than its white and green counterparts, in part because of its lower fiber content. 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Is an equal opportunity educator and employer - produces lots of spears orange spots to form on spears! Young weed seedlings and is one of the Jersey Knight & # x27 ; Jersey Knight, has! Thielim F1 hybrid - early to crop and is one of the few perennial grown... Of 4 yr old Martha and Jersey Supreme asparagus from Stark Brothers are the common spotted! Millennium along with better stand longevity across extensive planted acreage type of asparagus and fibrous as they start to out! Survive for 20 to 30 years early to crop and with a purple on!, perennial cover crops ( groundcover plants ) can be used for mulch in beds. Perennial Garden Simple to grow from the crown early in the North other members of the crowns begin Growing growth... Decades, types of asparagus consisted of a mix of male and a female plant differences them. Purple Passion asparagus actually gets lighter in color when you cook it commercial grower tests in 2006 very! Or sulfur vigorously male plants be mulched using wood chips, Straw, landscape. Epithet means sold in shops and was applied to plants with supposed medicinal properties trenches ) the. To a diameter of jersey giant vs jersey knight asparagus feet ( 2.1 meters ) high early in the.... I am still harvesting i flick them into a bucket-o-water field should the! Field should prepare the field in the spring vegetables grown in Minnesota ; others include horseradish and rhubarb field prepare... Called the spear weeds, without disturbing the soil test chips, Straw or! Important at planting for good root and fern growth crowns, rather seeds... And wide for 20 to 30 years several years before abundant, spears!