Just as the name implies this deep purple variety has 20% more sweetness than green asparagus. The large sturdy spears are almost stringless making it delicious both cooked and raw. Sweet Purple Asparagus has sizable spears that are tender right to the base allowing less waste. The mild, nutty flavor is a must have for the gourmet gardener. Zone 3-9.

25seeds

PLANTING

Asparagus officinalis

Germination:10-30days

Germination Temperature:Optimum soil temperatures 70-80F

Seed Sowing Depth:1/2″ deep

Sowing Indoors:12-14 weeks before last frost date.Soaking seeds in water overnight aids germination.Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot.Provide 70-85Fsoil temperature.Transplant after last frostin a 4-6 deep trench,10-15″ apart.Fill in the trench as the seedlings grow.

Sowing Outdoors:We recommendstarting themindoors then transplanting out. Sow after last frostwhen soil temperature is over70F.Sow 2-3 seeds every10-15″, thin to the strongest seedling.

Harvest:Ready for harvest in 3-4 years, may selectively pick a few spears during the second-third year.

Tips: Sweet Purple Asparagus should be planted in fertile soil, amended with compost or well rotted manure and kept well watered.Keep weeded as asparagus doesn’t compete well with weeds. Cut the fern- like growth to the ground when it becomes yellow and mulch with compost in fall.