Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis 'Jersey Knight')
Achieve high yields with Asparagus officinalis 'Jersey Knight', a low-maintenance, all-male All-American Selections winner perfect for sunny vegetable patches.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Knight’ is a highly esteemed herbaceous perennial celebrated primarily as a premium vegetable crop. This all-male cultivar is prized by gardeners for consistently delivering superior yields of fat, tender, green spears, often measuring 3/8 inch in diameter or more. Its distinct advantage lies in its genetics, as male plants do not divert energy into producing seeds, focusing instead on spear production until the spring harvest window closes.
Beyond the early spring harvest, this Asparagus variety develops into a towering, airy fern structure throughout the summer months, adding fine texture to the vegetable garden before dying back after the first frost. It provides aesthetic value alongside its functional purpose, proving that edible gardens can also be beautiful. Being reliably low maintenance and highly productive, Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Knight’ is an excellent long-term investment for any dedicated gardener.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asparagaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-10
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 3-4 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: Flowers not showy
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best time to establish a bed of Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Knight’ is early spring by planting dormant roots (crowns). Select a location receiving full sun, as light is crucial for spear development. Asparagus thrives best in organically rich soils that are medium in texture and well-drained; amending the soil heavily with compost before planting ensures success.
Care for new Asparagus plantings revolves around patience and consistent moisture management. While established plants tolerate medium water, they prefer consistently moist soil, especially during the initial establishment period. Crucially, an established bed must be kept meticulously free of weeds, as competition will severely impact future yields.
Remember that Asparagus is a long-term commitment; roots require two to three years to produce a reliable crop worthy of harvesting. If starting from seed, expect an additional year before harvesting begins. Once established, simply allow the ferns to grow fully in summer, cut them back after fall frost, and prepare for the next spring’s bounty.
Landscape Uses
While rooted firmly in the vegetable garden, the mature foliage of Asparagus can significantly enhance ornamental borders. The delicate, fern-like growth provides excellent textural contrast when planted against coarser leaf textures found among standard garden edibles or perennials. Use Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Knight’ along the back edge of borders where their height (up to 4 feet) won’t shade shorter vegetables.
The feathery summer foliage is also highly valued by florists and home arrangers alike. Consider interplanting the Asparagus crown roots near base-hardy ornamental grasses or early-blooming spring bulbs, which complete their cycle before the Asparagus ferns fully expand and shade them out. This overlap in seasonal interest ensures continuous coverage in your planting scheme.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Insignificant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that produces edible shoots or spears which may be harvested in April-May. Plants are male or female, but ‘Jersey Knight’ is an all-male cultivar, meaning it allocates energy to superior spear production rather than seed-setting. Plants eventually grow into towering ferns in the summer before dying back post-frost, leaving you with elegant, dormant stems throughout winter.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
Potential Problems
Although Asparagus is noted for being relatively pest-resistant, be aware of potential issues in some regions. Asparagus beetles and Japanese beetles can occasionally cause cosmetic damage to the summer foliage, though severe infestations requiring pesticides are rare. The most significant potential threat to the overall crop health is asparagus rust (Puccinia asparagi).
Fortunately, this specific cultivar, Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Knight’, often exhibits strong resistance to rust, root rot, and fusarium, making it a robust choice for growers concerned about these common soil-borne pathogens. Proactive management focuses on good air circulation and promptly removing and destroying infected fern debris in the fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Asparagus suitable for?
Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Knight’ is hardy across a wide range, thriving in USDA Zones 3 through 10, making it adaptable to most climates across the US.
How large does Asparagus grow?
When fully mature, this herbaceous perennial typically reaches a height between 3 and 4 feet, with a spread generally ranging from 1.5 to 2 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Asparagus need?
For optimal growth and the best harvest, Asparagus demands full sun exposure throughout the day.
When does Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Knight’ bloom?
The flowers of this Asparagus variety are described as not showy, featuring small white blooms during the season.
Conclusion
Asparagus officinalis ‘Jersey Knight’ offers gardeners a fantastic combination of high yield and low input, solidifying its place as a staple perennial vegetable. Its reliable production of thick, high-quality spears, coupled with its handsome summer fern structure, provides value across the entire growing season. Check your regional USDA hardiness zone compatibility and plan to site your new Asparagus bed in full sun early this coming spring for harvests years down the road.
Companion Planting
Successful companion planting around your Asparagus patch focuses on species that occupy different soil depths or provide temporary ground cover without competing heavily during the crucial spear production window. Consider planting shallow-rooted, quick-maturing annuals immediately adjacent to the rows, such as lettuce or radishes, which can be harvested before the Asparagus ferns fully develop in late spring.
Avoid planting aggressive, spreading perennial weeds or large, thirsty shrubs nearby, as the perennial Asparagus crowns require consistency. Some gardeners successfully interplant aromatic herbs like parsley or marigolds, which might offer slight deterrent qualities against minor garden pests, though the primary goal should be maximizing sunlight penetration and ease of weeding around the base of the Asparagus.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring preparation is key for maximizing your Asparagus harvest. Once the ground is workable (often before the last frost), this is the time to clear away last year’s dead fern growth and begin harvesting spears when they reach 6-10 inches tall. Continue harvesting until the spears begin to weaken in diameter, indicating the plant is redirecting energy to fern growth.
Summer care centers entirely on fern health; maintain the medium water needs, ensuring deep soaking during dry spells, and keep the bed mulched to suppress weeds. Do not cut the ferns back prematurely; allow them to mature fully to photosynthesize and build energy reserves in the crowns for next year’s yield.
In the late fall, after the foliage has naturally turned yellow or brown following the first hard frost, cut the dried stalks down to about two inches above the soil surface. This removes potential overwintering sites for pests and cleans up the bed before winter dormancy sets in for your valuable Asparagus patch.
