Asparagus | Mary Washington

Grow sweet, tender, and robust green spears of Mary Washington asparagus in your home garden. This classic heirloom variety is a timeless favorite among gardeners, prized for its vigorous growth, heavy production, and delicious, uniform spears with tight, purplish tips that are wonderful for fresh eating, steaming, roasting, and grilling.

As a hardy perennial crop, Mary Washington asparagus plants establish deep root systems to reward you with a bountiful harvest year after year for up to 15–20 seasons once established. Start seeds indoors in early spring for Canada's growing climate, as starting from seed is an economical way to build a productive, long-lasting asparagus bed.

Why Grow Mary Washington Asparagus?

• Classic heirloom producing rich green spears with tight, purplish-tinted tips
• Sweet, tender flavor with excellent texture for all culinary uses
• Long-lived perennial vegetable providing decades of spring harvests
• Exceptional rust resistance and vigorous, reliable growth
• Approximately 2–3 years to full harvest from seed sowing
• Grows best in full sun
• Open-pollinated heirloom variety
• Approximately 50-60 seeds per packet

How to Grow Mary Washington Asparagus from Seed

Start asparagus seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before your last spring frost date. Soak seeds in warm water for 24–48 hours prior to planting to soften the hard seed coat and speed up germination.

Sow seeds 13 mm (1/2 inch) deep in individual pots or deep cell trays filled with a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix. Maintain warm soil temperatures around 21–27°C (70–80°F) until germination occurs, which typically takes 14–21 days.

Harden off young seedlings gradually after all danger of frost has passed in late spring. Transplant into a permanent, deeply prepared garden trench enriched with plenty of organic compost, spacing plants 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) apart in rows spaced 1.2–1.5 m (4–5 feet) apart.

Keep the planting bed consistently moist and weed-free. Allow plants to grow undisturbed into feathery ferns during their first two seasons to build strong root reserves for future spring harvests.

Growing Asparagus in Canada

Mary Washington asparagus is exceptionally cold-hardy, thriving across Canadian growing zones down to zone 3. Once established, plants withstand harsh Canadian winters with ease, pushing up fresh, tender shoots as soon as the ground thaws in early spring.

Apply a thick layer of organic mulch in late autumn to protect root crowns and retain soil moisture throughout dry summer stretches.

For detailed instructions covering seed starting, spacing, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, and pest management, read our How to Grow Asparagus in Canada | Complete Guide (PDF)

Mary Washington Asparagus Growing Information

Feature	Detail
Botanical Name	Asparagus officinalis
Common Name	Asparagus (Mary Washington)
Plant Type	Perennial vegetable crop
Sun Requirements	Full sun
Days to Maturity	2–3 years (establishing perennial crowns)
Seed Count	Approximately 50-60 seeds
Pollination Type	Open-pollinated heirloom variety
Best Uses	Fresh steaming, roasting, grilling, sautéing, and freezing

Grow Your Own Mary Washington Asparagus

There is nothing quite like harvesting tender, sweet asparagus spears straight from your garden every spring. With its long-term longevity, cold hardiness, and delicious flavor, Mary Washington asparagus is an exceptionally rewarding addition to your Canadian vegetable patch.

Start your asparagus seeds this season and build a permanent perennial bed that yields for years to come.