Asparagus, Mary Washington

Easy to grow, disease resistant and delicious, Mary Washington has been the absolute gold standard for green asparagus varieties for the last century. During the early 1900s a fungal disease called Asparagus Rust travelled from Europe to the Americas, ravaging the U.S. asparagus crop. Plant explorer and breeder J.B. Norton, who worked at the USDA and with a group of Massachusetts asparagus growers, collected seeds from all over the East Coast and in Europe. He trialled countless varieties, using advanced statistical data to find successful varieties, and ended up with a group of resistant asparagus types that he called Washington. ‘Mary Washington’ showed to be incredibly vigorous, and resistant to the rust. His achievement was hailed as a huge success for asparagus breeding. This scrumptious and reliable heirloom has rightly reigned supreme in gardens and on farms since it was introduced in 1919. Norton went on to dedicate the remainder of his career to breeding work with the Pedigreed Seed Company, which specialized in, you guessed it, asparagus.

• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 14-21 Days
• Seed Depth 1/2"
• Ideal Temperature: 65-75 Degrees F
• Plant Spacing: 18"
• Frost Hardy: Y
• Asparagus officinalis

Growing Tips: Soak seeds 24 hours, sow indoors 2-3 months before last spring frost. Transplant into trenches in rich, well worked soil after last frost. Backfill gradually as seedlings grow.