Types Of Asparagus: 15 Essential Varieties For Every Garden
Choosing the right asparagus type lays the foundation for decades of flavorful harvests.
15 Types of Asparagus: Varieties for Every Garden
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is one of the most cherished perennial vegetables for home gardeners, appreciated for its tender shoots, nutritional value, and its ability to produce for up to three decades under the right conditions. Choosing the best asparagus type for your climate and taste is key to years of abundant harvest. This comprehensive guide covers 15 essential asparagus varieties–including green, purple, white, wild, and specialty types–to help you select and grow the perfect asparagus in your garden.
Understanding Asparagus Types
While there are dozens of cultivated asparagus varieties, they all fit within four basic categories:
- Green Asparagus â The most common, known for its grassy, robust flavor.
- White Asparagus â Grown without exposure to sunlight for a milder taste and ivory color.
- Purple Asparagus â Sweeter, less fibrous, and visually striking.
- Wild Asparagus â Found naturally or cultivated for unique characteristics.
There are also specialty hybrids and ornamental types, some of which are not edible.
Why Grow Multiple Asparagus Varieties?
Diversity in types means:
- Different harvest timesâextending your fresh asparagus season
- Range of flavors, from grassy green to sweet and nutty
- Greater disease resistance by mixing cultivars
- Unique color presentations for culinary use
Green Asparagus
This is the classic asparagus seen in supermarkets and gardens worldwide. Green asparagus varieties are most prevalent in North America and renowned for their vigorous growth and rich, savory taste. Three of the leading varieties are from the famed Jersey Series of all-male hybrids, prized for high yields and disease resistance.
Jersey Series: The All-Male Hybrids
- Jersey Giant
- Stalks: Large, thick, and meaty; 7-9 inches long
- Flavor: More pronounced, richer than standard types
- Best For: Zones 4â6, but adaptable elsewhere
- Features: Vigorous, productive for decades, good disease resistance
- Jersey Knight
- Stalks: Thick, sturdy; mostly male plants
- Resistance: Outstanding resistance to fusarium, crown rot, and rust
- Adaptability: Can withstand cold climates and variable soils
- Jersey Supreme
- Harvest: One of the earliest producers in its class
- Growth: Slender stalks; cold-tolerant, highly productive
- Utilization: Especially suited for northern gardens
Mary Washington
- Heritage: The classic American heirloom, first bred in the early 20th century
- Characteristics: Long, thick, tender shoots; rust-resistant
- Notes: Still widely grown and loved for flavor and nostalgia
UC 157
- Development: Popular in commercial production; bred for Fusarium and rust resistance
- Performance: Uniform spears, heavy yields even in warm climates
Guelph Millennium
- Origin: Developed in Canada for cold hardy performance
- Attributes: Solid green color, great taste, excellent northern adaptation
- Merits: RHS Award of Garden Merit recipient
Precoce D’Argenteuil
- Type: French heirloom, rare in North America
- Features: Rose-colored buds, tender texture
- Use: Excellent for white or purple spears if blanched or grown to full sun
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Purple Asparagus
Purple asparagus varieties offer visual appeal and increased sweetness thanks to their higher sugar content. They tend to be less fibrous and are delicious eaten raw as well as cookedâtheir vibrant color, however, fades with heat.
- Purple Passion
- Color: Deep purple spears, with tender, large-diameter stalks
- Flavor: Sweeter and more tender than any green variety
- Notes: Later emergence protects from spring frosts
- Pacific Purple
- Origin: From the UK, popular for high yield in home gardens
- Attributes: Extra thick, deep purple spears; maintains color in salads
- Zones: 3â9
- Erasmus
- Development: Notable as the first all-male purple hybrid
- Flavor: Sweet, very tender spears
- Harvest: Mid-early harvest window, adaptable to zones 3â10
White Asparagus
White asparagus is not a separate species but is grown by covering the spears with soil or mulch as they emerge, preventing photosynthesis and keeping the stalks pale. It is considered a delicacy in Europe for its mild flavor and tender bite. Popular varieties for white cultivation include:
- Precoce D’Argenteuil (as above)
- Valued for both its blanched tenderness and violet-tinged buds when grown in light
- White Hybrid Varieties
- Many green varieties can be blanched for white harvest, including Mary Washington and Gijnlim
- Some modern hybrids are bred for easy blanching harvest
Wild and Specialty Asparagus
Wild asparagus plants are often smaller and more slender, sometimes grown for ornamental purposes or for their delicate shoots by enthusiasts. Other specialty varieties are bred for hybrid vigor or specific regional conditions.
- AsparaBest
- Features: Predominantly male, extremely cold-tolerant, heavy yields
- Notes: Excellent option for northern and cold gardens
- Spartacus
- Hybrid: All-male, extra productive, long spears up to nine inches
- Versatility: Handles both cold winters and warm summers
- UC 72
- Type: Similar to Mary Washington; heat, drought, and rust tolerant
- Region: Suited to warm, arid climates
Comparison Table: Popular Asparagus Varieties
| Variety | Color | Main Features | Recommended Climate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Giant | Green | Meaty, flavorful, high yield | Zones 4â6 and wider |
| Jersey Knight | Green | Thick stalks, disease resistant | Colder regions |
| Purple Passion | Purple | Sweeter, tender, eye-catching | Most temperate zones |
| Pacific Purple | Purple | High-yielding, thick spears | Zones 3â9 |
| Guelph Millennium | Green | Cold tolerant, award-winning | Canada, Northern US |
| Mary Washington | Green | Heirloom, tender shoots | Widespread adaptation |
| AsparaBest | Green | Heavy yield, cold hardy | Colder climates |
| Spartacus | Green | All-male, very productive | Wide climate range |
Growth Habits & Longevity
Many asparagus plants produce for up to 20â30 years when well cared for. Most garden varieties are perennial. New spears emerge each spring, and harvesting can last up to 8 weeks in established beds. All-male hybrids (like the Jersey series) often yield higher crops because energy isnât spent on seed production.
How to Choose the Best Asparagus for Your Garden
Consider these factors before you buy crowns or seeds:
- Climate: Some varieties excel in cold; others thrive in heat.
- Disease Resistance: Choose known-resistant types if fusarium or rust is a problem.
- Yield and Longevity: Opt for all-male hybrids for maximum spear production.
- Color and Taste: Try purple types for sweetness, traditional greens for robust flavor, or grow white for gourmet presentations.
Quick Growing Tips for Asparagus Success
- Site Selection: Plant asparagus in full sun with rich, well-drained soil.
- Spacing: Crowns should be spread 12â18 inches apart in rows 3â5 feet apart.
- Soil Prep: Add compost or aged manure before planting for vigorous early growth.
- Patience is key: Spears shouldnât be harvested the first year after planting crowns; limited harvest is allowed in the second year, full harvest in year three and beyond.
- Maintenance: After harvest, allow ferns to grow and nourish the crown for next yearâs crop.
- Companion Planting: Avoid alliums (onions, garlic) and tubers (potatoes) near asparagus beds, but lettuce and spinach can work well between rows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between green, purple, and white asparagus?
Green asparagus is the most common, robustly flavored, and grown in sunlight. Purple asparagus has a higher sugar content, making it sweeter and tender enough to eat raw; its color fades with cooking. White asparagus is grown in darkness or covered by soil, resulting in milder flavor and no bitterness.
Can I grow multiple asparagus varieties in one bed?
Yes, mixing varieties is possible and often desirable for a longer harvest window, different flavors, and improved disease resistance. Choose types with similar growth requirements for best results.
How long does an asparagus bed last?
Well-cared-for beds can yield for 20â30 years. All-male hybrids and disease-resistant varieties may last even longer under optimal conditions.
Which asparagus variety is easiest for beginners?
All-male hybrids like the Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, or Guelph Millennium are hardy, productive, and resist common diseases.
Why should I choose an all-male hybrid?
All-male types donât spend energy making seeds. This means larger, more numerous spears and less weedy self-seeding in your beds.
Is one type better for eating raw?
Purple varieties are especially tender and sweet when rawâtry Purple Passion or Pacific Purple in salads or as fresh snacks.
Conclusion
Whether you crave classic green, tender white, or sweet purple spears, thereâs a perfect asparagus for your garden. Mixing varieties ensures a bountiful, beautiful harvest for years to comeâjust choose according to your local climate and preferred taste. Happy planting!
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