Type: Perennial
Days To Germination:  14-15
Planting Depth: 1-1/2 inches
Spacing, Row: 36-72inches
Spacing, Seed: 3-5 inches
Spacing, Plant:  12-18 inches
Plant Height: 30 inches
Light:  Sunny or Partially Shaded

SOWING:  Soak seeds for 2-6 days before sowing. (In a hurry, seeds can be soaked overnight.)  Sow as early as possible in the spring. Select a well drained site. Sow rows 36-72 inches apart, 3-5 inches apart in rows. Depth 1-1/2 inches. Thin the plants to grow 12-18 inches apart in the rows. Likes a sunny or partially shaded location.  Optimum soil temperature for germination is 60-86 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination time is 14-15 days.

THINNING:  Thin the plants to grow 12-18 inches apart in the rows.

HARVEST:  Plants should not be harvested until the second year. Heavy cuttings are possible the third year.

SUGGESTIONS: For best flavor, harvest when spears are pencil-thin and the buds on the tops form sharp points.  Asparagus is a heavy feeder and thrives in rich, fertile soil. Apply compost or aged manure to the rows in the fall.  The ferns that grow in the summer feed the roots, and should not be cut back until they die naturally in the fall. Protect the plants in winter with mulch.

ASPARAGUS
Mary Washington
Asparagus officinalis

Tasty shoots are thick, straight, dark green with purple color at the tightly folded tips. One of the most popular asparagus varieties. Excellent for home gardens. Plant this perennial vegetable just once and enjoy the succulent spears for years. Graceful, feathery green foliage remains attractive long after harvest. Highly resistant to asparagus rust. Uniform heavy yields. Full or partial sun. Soak seeds before sowing. Developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Harvest every spring. (A light harvest can be done after two years, and regular harvesting after three years.)