Jersey Knight, (F1) Asparagus Roots

Jersey Knight (F1) Asparagus Roots

Premium green spears feature attractive purple bracts
Predominantly male plants concentrate energy into spear production
Strong disease tolerance supports long-lived plantings
Adapts better to warmer climates than many Jersey types

See product details

Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Asparagus officinalis

Days to maturity

1 Year

Sun

Full Sun

Zones 2–9 Check your growing zone

About Jersey Knight, (F1) Asparagus Roots, Asparagus Roots

The Jersey Knight asparagus is a very productive and great tasting plant. These roots grow tall stalks that can yield up to 3-4 times more asparagus than other varieties. Predominantly male, produces high yields, high disease tolerance and produces well in warmer climates. Jersey Knight produces the best spear quality of all the Jersey hybrids. Green spears with purple bracts.

Growing details

Plant profile

Maturity

Spring

Life Cycle

Perennial

Hardiness Zone

Zones 2-9

Plant Height

48 inches

Growth Habits

Upright

Seed & variety

Color

Green, Purple

Seed Type

Hybrid

Before Planting

Choose a permanent full-sun bed with deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Remove perennial weeds before planting, incorporate compost, and correct pH and nutrients from a soil test. Dig a 6–12 inch furrow, using the shallower end of that range in heavy soil.

Planting

Set one-year crowns in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, with buds about 12 inches apart. Arrange the roots naturally, cover crowns with a few inches of soil, and return the remaining soil gradually as shoots develop. Water after planting and keep the new bed weed-free.

Watering

Keep new asparagus beds evenly moist during their first two seasons. Established plants need deep watering during prolonged drought, especially while ferns are growing, but the crown area should never remain saturated.

Fertilizer

After harvest ends, apply compost or a balanced fertilizer according to soil-test recommendations to support fern growth. Avoid fertilizing late enough to encourage tender growth before frost.

Harvesting

Begin light asparagus harvests only after crowns are well established, usually the third growing season. Cut or snap spears when they reach usable height and before tips loosen. Stop harvesting when spear size declines, allowing ferns to develop.

Tips

Keep the bed weed-free without deep cultivation that could injure crowns. Allow ferns to grow after harvest, then remove them only after they brown naturally to replenish underground reserves.

Pests & Diseases

Fusarium crown and root rot, Phytophthora rot, rust, purple spot, and Cercospora blight can shorten an asparagus bed’s life. Reject crowns with soft tissue or reddish-brown decay. Choose well-drained ground, avoid stressing plants through drought or overharvest, control weeds, remove diseased fern debris after dormancy, and sanitize tools.

Asparagus beetles, aphids, cutworms, and slugs may damage spears and ferns. Handpick beetles and eggs, remove old fern debris after dormancy, and preserve beneficial insects that attack larvae.