Even though we aren’t going to have a real garden at the new location, I want to have asparagus, rhubarb (which I could not grow in Texas) and garlic.
As far as asparagus, I try to grow only male plants but the last two times I bought asparagus crowns that were supposed to be all male, there were a few female plants in there. Most female asparagus doesn’t produce as many spears as do the males and the worst part – the red “fruit” that has seeds and asparagus pops up everywhere. Here, it hasn’t mattered so much but when I’m growing asparagus in my yard, I don’t like having to pull the volunteer plants from the lower beds, walkways, etc. and I’m sure my neighbors don’t appreciate it in their yards either.
I was able to order some Jersey Knit asparagus from Etsy. I had done a little research to see which variety was best or southern MO so I was happy to find two year old crowns on Etsy. It will be shipped in December and I’ll need to plant it probably in March or April so that gives us time to get some raised beds built.
Paula Nordt says
Learned something new today! Did not know that asparagus came in female/male plants. Do they look different?
Judy Laquidara says
I’m not that knowledgeable about the differences. What I know is that the female makes red berry looking “fruit”. It falls and blows and I end up with asparagus all over the place. I’ve found asparagus growing probably 200 feet from my asparagus patch. Like I said, it isn’t a problem here but in a subdivision, I don’t want to be spreading asparagus to the entire subdivision. Also, I’ve read that male plants produce more spears and some varieties produce what some claim are more flavorful spears.
The asparagus I have growing came in packets either from local garden centers or even Walmart and I always purchased varieties that were supposedly male varieties but I have probably at least one-fourth of my plants are female so I wanted to try buying from an Etsy seller who has outstanding reviews . . hoping I will in fact get all male crowns.
Paula Nordt says
Keeping my fingers crossed for you. We have heavy gumbo soil here, so haven’t tried growing asparagus.
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t know that it would grow in well in that soil. I think I read that it likes a lighter, maybe even sandy type soil but we planted ours here in raised beds and will do the same there.