Grande F1 Asparagus Plant - 2-3 Year Crowns - 10-Pack

Looking for a reliable and high-yielding asparagus variety, Grande F1™ offers an exceptional choice. This early to mid-season variety is specially designed for warm to hot climates, ensuring a robust and early start to your asparagus season. What sets Grande F1 apart is its remarkable growth rate and high yield, outshining other popular varieties like Atlas F1™, Apollo F1, and UC 157 F1 in terms of both size and production capacity.

The spears of Grande F1 are medium-large to large in diameter, with a distinctive deep green coloration and minimal purple tinting on the bud scales, tips, and butt. They maintain very tight, cylindrical heads with slightly tapered tips, creating a smooth and appealing appearance even under warm to hot conditions. This versatile variety excels in both green and white asparagus production, making it adaptable to different growing preferences.

Disease resistance is a standout feature of Grande F1. The variety demonstrates high tolerance to common challenges including fusarium, rust, blight, and other foliar diseases, while being free of Asparagus Latent Virus race 2 (AV II). For additional protection, particularly against Phomopsis asp, Grande F1 can be successfully grown under plastic tunnels, even in warm to hot conditions.

What makes Grande F1 particularly appealing is its early and vigorous growth pattern, combined with an extended harvest period that spans from early through late in the cutting season. The spears remain tender and are slow to fern out or become fibrous, even as temperatures climb above 70 degrees. For gardeners eager to enjoy their harvest, many of the 2-3 year-old crowns will produce harvestable spears in their first planting year, offering quick gratification and sustained production throughout the growing season.

Planting Instructions:

• - Plant crowns in spring
• - Plant crowns 12-18 inches apart in trenches 6-8 inches deep

Soil Preparation:

• - Ideal soil pH: 6.5-7.0
• - Well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter

Watering Specifics:

• - Water deeply and regularly during the first two years
• - Once established, water during dry spells

Fertilizer Type:

• - Apply balanced fertilizer in early spring
• - Side-dress with compost after harvest

Pruning and Training:

• - Cut back dead foliage in late fall

Pollination:

• - Not necessary for spear production

Additional Pest Management:

• - Watch for asparagus beetles and cutworms
• - Use organic insecticides if pest problems persist

Harvesting Indicators:

• - Harvest spears when they're 6-8 inches tall and about as thick as your finger
• - Stop harvesting as the spears become tough and the tops start opening

Storage:

• - Store fresh spears in the refrigerator for up to a week
• - Can be frozen or pickled for longer storage

Companion Plants:

• - Tomatoes: Repel asparagus beetles
• - Parsley: Attracts beneficial insects
• - Basil: Improves growth and flavor

Asparagus Plant Care Instructions: Spears can be harvested once they are as thick as a pencil. Stop harvesting as the spears become tough and the tops start opening. Leave them grow and fern out for the rest of the year. They can be cut back to the ground after the first hard frost, or it can be done in early spring before the new growth starts.