Purple Passion on 5-1-09.
FAMILY: Liliaceae
GENUS: Asparagus
SPECIES: officinalis
CULTIVAR: Purple Passion
Purple Passion is an open-pollinated cultivar (progeny of 3 females). Purple asparagus are tetraploid (4N) in genetic makeup which gives them more vigorous growth and larger spears than green Asparagus. Green asparagus are diploid (2N). Supposedly, this tetraploid characteristic also makes crown development and root structure twice that of green varieties.
They are very mild and sweet, with 20% more sugar content of the green. They have less lignin per spear which makes them less stringy. They can be eaten raw and add a nice touch of color in salads. Boiling denatures the anthocyanin pigment leaving them a nice dark green.
They are easily grown in well-drained organic soil in full sun. They do best if the soil is kept evenly moist. They are winter hardy in zones 5a-8a (-20 to 10 degrees F).
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!
Purple Passion produces about 50% male and 50% female plants… So, the males will produce larger spears, and the females will produce plants with flowers and red seeds, which can cause a self-seeding problem.
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!
