Fresh and cooked field blanched Precoce D&
A close-up detailed view of field blanched Precoce D&
Precoce D&
Four spears of Precoce D&
Precoce D&
Fresh and cooked field blanched Precoce D&
A close-up detailed view of field blanched Precoce D&
Precoce D&
Four spears of Precoce D&
Precoce D&

Asparagus Seeds,
Precoce D'Argenteuil

422 ReviewsSKU: #AS102
Price
Regular price $4.00
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Min. 75 seeds

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Description

(Asparagus officinalis). An old traditional heirloom, this gourmet variety is highly esteemed in Europe for its delicious stems with rose-tinged buds that can be blanched white, as in this photo. It produces well and has been a favorite of chefs since the late 1800s.

Growing Tips: Precoce D’Argenteuil is a classic French heirloom asparagus known for its early yields, thick pale-pink buds, and rich flavor. It performs best in cool to temperate climates and rewards patient growers with decades of productive harvests.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Asparagus officinalis
Life Cycle
Perennial in zones 3–8
Sun Requirement
Full sun
Days to Germinate
10–21
Planting Depth
1/2 inch (seeds); 6–8 inches (crowns)
Plant Spacing
12–18 in.
Ideal Temperature
60°F to 85°F
Frost Hardy
Yes

Growing Guide

When to Grow

Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before your last spring frost or direct sow outdoors in early spring. Early establishment helps build a vigorous root system: let the plants grow undisturbed for two years and wait until the third year to begin harvesting. If you’re not sure how to find your first and last frost dates, consult our blog post 'Our Experts Answer Questions, Share Resources.'

How to Sow and Plant

  • While asparagus can be grown from crowns (bare roots) for a quicker harvest, starting from seeds is much more economical.
  • You can harvest asparagus three years after sowing seeds.
  • Start seeds in a warm, sunny location 2-3 months before the last frost of the spring.
  • Sow seeds ½ inch deep and 2 inches apart in loose, well-drained soil.
  • Ideal germination temperature is 65-75 F.
  • Seeds germinate in 14-21 days.

How to Grow

  • Provide a well-drained bed of loose soil in full sun.
  • Transplant seedlings outdoors 6 inches apart once the threat of frost has passed.
  • Be sure to keep weeds under control and keep the bed well watered.
  • Transplant seedlings to their final bed in the early fall or following spring. The final bed should be well worked, amended with plenty of good compost and located in full sun.
  • Plants should be set 2-3 feet apart and 2-3 inches deep.
  • Mulch around plants and allow them to grow undisturbed for 2 years in order to let plants become established.
  • Keep well watered but not soaked.
  • Avoid the temptation to harvest asparagus until the third year of growth, cutting the shoots with a sharp knife when they are less than 10 inches tall.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • To avoid rot and fungal issues, plant in good quality soil that is well drained.
  • Try to orient your row or bed in the direction of the prevailing wind to keep foliage dry.

How to Save Seeds

  • Allow some ferns to mature and produce red berries by late summer
  • Harvest berries when fully ripe and remove seeds from pulp
  • Rinse seeds clean and dry thoroughly on paper or mesh
  • Store seeds in a cool, dark, airtight container until spring
  • Label with variety and date for future reference

FAQ

How long before I can harvest asparagus grown from seed?

You can harvest asparagus three years after sowing seeds. Let plants grow undisturbed for 2 years to become established, and avoid the temptation to cut until the third year, taking the shoots with a sharp knife when they are less than 10 inches tall. Precoce D'Argenteuil is a classic French heirloom known for its early yields and rich flavor, with rose-tinged buds that can be blanched white; it has been a favorite of chefs since the late 1800s.

How do I start the seed?

Start seeds in a warm, sunny location 2 to 3 months before the last frost of the spring, sowing 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart in loose, well-drained soil. Hold the flat at 65 to 75 F and allow 14 to 21 days for sprouts. Transplant seedlings outdoors 6 inches apart once the threat of frost has passed, then move them to their final full-sun bed in early fall or the following spring, 12 to 18 inches apart in rows 3 to 4 feet apart, setting the crowns 6 to 8 inches deep.

What are the red berries on Precoce D'Argenteuil for?

When plants go to seed they produce red berries, and they are used for seed saving: squeeze the seeds into a bowl, rinse them gently with water, air dry, and refrigerate over winter to cold stratify. Asparagus is dioecious, so only female plants set berries, and it is insect-pollinated and outcrossing, so seed saved where other asparagus grows nearby will not come true to this variety; isolate the planting or expect variable seedlings. The seeds are poisonous, so do not eat them.

Customer reviews

4 / 5 22 Reviews

What gardeners are saying

  • Every seed comes up: Germination near 100 percent, often more plants than planned.

  • Hardy in cold: Comes back after hard winters, even down to minus 40.

  • Thick spears in time: Mature crowns send up thick spears, though some stay thin.

  • Fresh flavor: Tender and far better than store-bought, good even raw.

  • Heads up: Plan on two to three years before the first real harvest.

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