Jersey Knight Asparagus on 5-1-09.
FAMILY: Liliaceae
GENUS: Asparagus
SPECIES: officinalis
CULTIVAR: Jersey Knight
Jersey Knight is an all-male cultivar that produces 3/8 inch diameter plus spears. They are easily grown in well-drained soil rich in organic matter in full sun. They are winter hardy in zones 5a-8b (-28 to 15 degrees F).They prefer the soil to be kept evenly moist. I occasionally watered mine during dry periods, and with the tall growth the soil was well shaded which allowed the soil to remain damp longer. I recommend planting Asparagus crowns, at least 1 year old. You should not harvest spears until the plants are at least 2 years old. If you plant 2 year old crowns, still allow a full season of growing before harvesting the following year. Although this is an all male strain, they may still produce a few female plants. Strains that are not all male will produce both male and female plants. Female plants do not produce large spears, but will produce flowers and red seeds. The seeds will fall off and can cause some self-seeding problems. Seeds of this strain will not produce offspring true to this cultivar, or may be sterile… (This is from memory, and I hope I am correct… If not, make a comment and I will make a correction).
The plants will grow like mad throughout the summer, reaching a height of around 4 feet! They will go dormant after a freeze and come up in the spring and reward you with delicious spears!!! The frost we had here in Mississippi on December 5, 2009, didn’t seem to hurt them… They are still green! Throughout the summer, my plants still sent up tall spears!
I purchased my crowns from Heirloom Acres (see under SEED SOURCES). He suggests this guide to planting: Dig a trench 12 inches deep and apply well composted cow manure or fertilizer at a recommended rate. He places the crowns in the trench lengthwise, on their sides, as the crowns do not have to be facing upwards. Space the crowns 10-12 inches apart in rows 5 feet apart. Completely cover the crowns and gradually fill in the trench as the crowns sprout and grow. He recommends fertilizing annually with cow manure or fertilizer.
Now, I did not space mine exactly as he said because I was battling the darn fire ants that decided the bed was theirs first. So, I may have to work on the bed somewhat in the spring!
Jersey Knight still sending up new shoots! Picture taken 8-7-09.
Tree Frog in the Asparagus bed on August 28, 2009.
