{"product_id":"mary-washington-asparagus-seeds","title":"Mary Washington Asparagus Seeds","description":"\u003ch2\u003eHistory\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMary Washington Asparagus is the most celebrated and widely grown heirloom asparagus variety in American gardening history — a variety so reliable, productive, and flavorful that it has remained the gold standard for home gardeners for nearly a century. Developed in the 1920s by the USDA and named after George Washington’s mother, Mary Washington was bred specifically for rust resistance and superior spear quality, quickly replacing older varieties across the country. It became the backbone of American asparagus production and the variety that defined what fresh asparagus should taste like for generations of home cooks. A true perennial, Mary Washington will reward patient gardeners with decades of harvests from a single planting — making it one of the best long-term investments in the home garden. Open-pollinated and non-GMO.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePlant Profile\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to First Harvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–3 years from seed (patience is rewarded with 20+ years of harvests)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpear Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thick, tender spears 6–9 inches long with tight, purple-tinged tips\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Plant Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Feathery ferns reach 4–6 feet tall in summer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom; hardy perennial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFlavor Profile\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMary Washington Asparagus delivers the quintessential fresh asparagus flavor — bright, grassy, and slightly sweet with a tender, meaty texture that bears no resemblance to canned asparagus. The thick spears are rich and satisfying with a clean, vegetal sweetness that shines in simple preparations. Roasted, grilled, steamed, or eaten raw — fresh asparagus from the garden is one of spring’s greatest pleasures, and Mary Washington is the variety that delivers it most reliably.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowth Type \u0026amp; Harvest Yields\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMary Washington Asparagus is a long-lived perennial that requires patience but rewards it generously. Starting from seed, plants need 2–3 years to establish before the first harvest — but once established, a well-tended asparagus bed will produce abundantly for 20–30 years. Each crown produces multiple spears per season over a 6–8 week harvest window in spring. A bed of 10–15 plants will provide a generous harvest for a family of four. The feathery summer ferns are ornamental in their own right and feed the crowns for next year’s harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDisease Resistance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent rust resistance — bred specifically for rust tolerance, a major improvement over older varieties\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood tolerance to fusarium crown rot in well-drained soils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSusceptible to asparagus beetles — monitor in spring and hand-pick adults and eggs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTip: Never harvest all spears in the first 2 years — allow ferns to develop fully to build strong crowns\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Tips \u0026amp; Planting Dimensions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing: 12–18 inches between plants, rows 4–5 feet apart — asparagus needs permanent space\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSow depth: ½ inch deep indoors; transplant crowns 6–8 inches deep in a prepared trench\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGermination: 14–21 days at soil temps of 70–85°F — slower than most vegetables\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull sun — at least 8 hours of direct sunlight daily for best spear production\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrefers deep, well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5–7.0 — prepare beds deeply before planting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTop-dress with compost each fall after ferns die back to feed crowns for next season\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not harvest in year 1; harvest lightly in year 2; harvest fully from year 3 onward\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhen to Plant\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eStart indoors 12–14 weeks before last frost date. Transplant seedlings outdoors after frost danger passes when plants are 10–12 weeks old. Asparagus can also be direct sown outdoors in early spring when soil reaches 50°F, though indoor starting gives a head start. Plant in a permanent bed — asparagus does not like to be moved once established. Find your frost dates and hardiness zone at the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/planthardiness.ars.usda.gov\"\u003eUSDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompanion Plants \u0026amp; Mutual Benefits\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTomatoes\u003c\/strong\u003e — a classic pairing; tomatoes repel asparagus beetles, asparagus repels nematodes that attack tomatoes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParsley \u0026amp; Basil\u003c\/strong\u003e — attract beneficial insects and deter asparagus beetles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarigolds\u003c\/strong\u003e — deter nematodes and asparagus beetles with their strong scent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNasturtiums\u003c\/strong\u003e — attract aphids away from asparagus as a trap crop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvoid planting near:\u003c\/strong\u003e onions, garlic, and potatoes — inhibit asparagus growth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHow to Enjoy\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoasted:\u003c\/strong\u003e Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper — roast at 425°F for 12–15 minutes until tips are crispy and stalks are tender\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrilled:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brush with olive oil and grill over high heat for 3–5 minutes — char adds incredible depth of flavor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSteamed:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steam until just tender and finish with lemon butter and flaky sea salt\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRaw:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shave thin with a vegetable peeler for a fresh spring salad with lemon and parmesan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAsparagus Soup:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blend roasted asparagus with stock and cream for a silky, elegant spring soup\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy Gardeners Love Mary Washington Asparagus\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe gold standard heirloom asparagus — proven, reliable, and deeply flavorful\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA true perennial investment — one planting produces for 20–30 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent rust resistance — bred for durability in the home garden\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThick, tender spears with tight purple-tinged tips — beautiful and delicious\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen-pollinated and non-GMO — save your own seeds year after year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne of spring’s greatest garden-to-table pleasures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHarvest Tips\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not harvest in year 1 — allow all spears to fern out and build crown strength\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest lightly in year 2 — take only the thickest spears for 2–3 weeks, then let the rest fern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom year 3 onward, harvest all spears over a 6–8 week window in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCut or snap spears at soil level when they reach 6–9 inches tall with tight tips\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop harvesting when spear diameter decreases — allow remaining spears to fern for crown recovery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStore harvested spears upright in an inch of water in the refrigerator for up to 1 week\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOrder Today\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdd Mary Washington Asparagus Seeds to your garden this season and plant the perennial that will reward you with fresh asparagus every spring for decades to come. Choose your pack size and begin to grow.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Garden Heirloom Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Starter Pack of 10 seeds","offer_id":53860541104442,"sku":null,"price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Garden Pack of 25 seeds - 🌱 Best Value","offer_id":53860541137210,"sku":null,"price":2.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1003\/7850\/9626\/files\/mary-washington-asparagus-harvest-basket.png?v=1786065541","url":"https:\/\/gardenheirloomseeds.com\/products\/mary-washington-asparagus-seeds","provider":"Garden Heirloom Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}