Mary Washington Asparagus
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Mary Washington Asparagus is a favorite for both novice and seasoned gardeners due to its exceptional quality and easy-to-grow nature. Known for its tender, sweet-tasting spears, this variety provides a delicious addition to any garden or meal. The plant is highly productive, yielding abundant crops for several years with proper care. After 2-3 years of producing quality spears, Mary Washington will be productive for decades. Its resilient nature allows it to thrive in a variety of climates, ensuring a successful harvest even in challenging conditions. This asparagus is also versatile in the kitchen, perfect for steaming, grilling, or adding to your favorite dishes. Its vibrant green color and delicate texture make it a visually appealing addition to any plate, adding a fresh and healthy touch to your meals.
Also Known As: Washington Asparagus, Green Asparagus, Garden Asparagus, Common Asparagus, Early Asparagus, Spring Asparagus, Asparagus Officinalis, Heirloom Asparagus, Fresh Asparagus.
*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.
Planting Instructions:
Soil Preparation:
Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.
Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.
Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 18 inches apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.
Planting:
For an earlier Asparagus harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers and a location with full sun 12-15 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring to produce transplants, keeping seedlings at least 70F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location after the last expected spring frost. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole in the ground or larger container outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the transplant holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting.
To directly sow asparagus, plant in spring as soon as the soil can be worked. To plant, make holes 1 inch deep and spaced 3 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. After a year, asparagus plants can be transplanted to a different location.
Planting Depth: 1 inch
Within-Row Spacing: 3 inches
Between-Row Spacing: 12-18 inches
Care During the Season:
Watering: Water the plants consistently, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once or twice a week. If there is no rainfall, water twice a week. Newly planted asparagus requires more frequent watering to help establish roots, while mature plants can tolerate short dry periods but still benefit from regular watering for optimal spear production. Mulch can help retain moisture and reduce frequency of watering.
Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.
Fertilizing: When spears start to emerge, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of a high-phosphorous fertilizer around each hole, or 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. Water plants after fertilizing.
Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.
Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.
Harvesting:
Asparagus is ready to harvest in the spring when spears are 6-10 inches tall and about the thickness of your finger. Harvest spears early in the season when they are tender and before the tips start to open. Cut or snap them just above the soil line. For established plants, harvest for 6-8 weeks, then allow spears to grow into ferns to replenish the plant's energy for the next season. Avoid harvesting the first year to allow plants to establish.
Also Known As: Washington Asparagus, Green Asparagus, Garden Asparagus, Common Asparagus, Early Asparagus, Spring Asparagus, Asparagus Officinalis, Heirloom Asparagus, Fresh Asparagus.
| Plant Name: | Asparagus, Mary Washington |
| Latin Name: | Asparagus officinalis |
| Days to Germinate: | 10-21 |
| Days to Harvest: | 90-140 |
| Plant Height: | 4 - 8 Feet |
| Spread: | 12 - 18 Inches |
| Growth Habit: | Upright |
| USDA Zones: | 3-10 |
| Lifespan: | Perennial |
| Brand: | TomorrowSeeds |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
| Pollination: | Heirloom, Open-Pollinated |
| GMO: | No |
| Fungicide-Treated Seeds*: | No |
| Seeds Packed For**: | 2025 |
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.
Planting Instructions:
Soil Preparation:
Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.
Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.
Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 18 inches apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.
Planting:
For an earlier Asparagus harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers and a location with full sun 12-15 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring to produce transplants, keeping seedlings at least 70F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location after the last expected spring frost. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole in the ground or larger container outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the transplant holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting.
To directly sow asparagus, plant in spring as soon as the soil can be worked. To plant, make holes 1 inch deep and spaced 3 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. After a year, asparagus plants can be transplanted to a different location.
Planting Depth: 1 inch
Within-Row Spacing: 3 inches
Between-Row Spacing: 12-18 inches
Care During the Season:
Watering: Water the plants consistently, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once or twice a week. If there is no rainfall, water twice a week. Newly planted asparagus requires more frequent watering to help establish roots, while mature plants can tolerate short dry periods but still benefit from regular watering for optimal spear production. Mulch can help retain moisture and reduce frequency of watering.
Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.
Fertilizing: When spears start to emerge, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of a high-phosphorous fertilizer around each hole, or 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. Water plants after fertilizing.
Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.
Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.
Harvesting:
Asparagus is ready to harvest in the spring when spears are 6-10 inches tall and about the thickness of your finger. Harvest spears early in the season when they are tender and before the tips start to open. Cut or snap them just above the soil line. For established plants, harvest for 6-8 weeks, then allow spears to grow into ferns to replenish the plant's energy for the next season. Avoid harvesting the first year to allow plants to establish.
