Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, meaning a single planting can yield harvests for 15 to 30 years. This long lifespan makes the initial selection of planting material a significant decision for the home gardener. While asparagus can be started from seed, the preferred and most common method is planting one-year-old root systems known as crowns. Crowns provide a substantial head start, significantly reducing the time until the first harvest can be enjoyed. This guide explores the various avenues available for acquiring high-quality asparagus crowns.
Primary Sources for Purchasing Asparagus Crowns
The widest selection of asparagus varieties is typically found through specialized mail-order or online nurseries. These vendors often focus exclusively on perennial food crops, allowing them to offer both common and specialized cultivars like specific all-male hybrids. Purchasing directly from these dedicated sources ensures the crowns are freshly dug and shipped during the appropriate dormant planting season.
Local garden centers and independent nurseries offer another reliable source for obtaining crowns, providing the benefit of immediate availability. These local businesses often stock varieties that are well-suited to the immediate geographic area, and the staff can provide localized planting and care advice. However, the inventory at these locations is generally limited to the most popular or locally adapted cultivars.
Consumers can also find asparagus crowns at large farm supply stores or major big-box retailers during the early spring planting window. These locations provide convenience and often feature lower price points due to the volume of material they handle. While a budget-friendly option, the selection is usually restricted to one or two standard varieties.
Crowns Versus Seeds: Selecting the Planting Material
Asparagus crowns are the established root system of a seedling that has completed one full year of growth. These one-year-old roots are dormant when purchased, appearing as fleshy roots with several buds emerging from the center. Planting crowns immediately saves the gardener the full year required to grow a seedling to the necessary size for field establishment.
Starting asparagus from seed requires patience, as the initial seedlings are delicate and must be nurtured for an entire season before they develop into a viable crown for transplanting. While seeds offer the widest possible genetic selection, the practical timeline means the first harvest is delayed by an extra year compared to planting crowns. For the average home grower, the reduced time to establishment makes the robust crown the practical choice.
Choosing the Best Variety for Your Region
Selecting the correct cultivar is paramount, and modern breeding has focused heavily on developing all-male hybrid varieties. Asparagus plants are dioecious, meaning they produce separate male and female plants. Female plants put significant energy into producing seeds, which diverts resources away from spear production, ultimately reducing the annual yield.
Male hybrid plants, which do not produce seeds, channel all their energy into developing more and thicker spears, resulting in a substantially higher harvest. Beyond the gender of the plant, the chosen variety must align with the local climate, particularly concerning cold hardiness and heat tolerance. Some cultivars are bred to thrive in extremely cold northern climates, while others are better suited to regions with longer, warmer growing seasons.
Timing Your Purchase and Inspecting Crown Quality
Asparagus crowns are a seasonal product, available for purchase only during their dormant period, typically from late winter through early spring. This timing aligns with the ideal window for planting, which is as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Ordering too late risks the crowns breaking dormancy and beginning to sprout, which can stress the plant.
Upon receiving the crowns, a thorough inspection is necessary to ensure quality and viability before planting. A healthy crown should feel firm to the touch and exhibit no signs of mold, rot, or excessive dryness. Growers should look for visible, plump buds or growth points emerging from the center of the root mass, indicating strong potential for the first season’s growth. If immediate planting is impossible, the crowns should be kept cool and slightly moist, often by lightly covering them with damp peat moss or newspaper in a refrigerator.