20 Millennium Asparagus Bare Roots – Asparagus officinalis, High-Yielding Perennial

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our premium offering of 20 Millennium Asparagus bare roots. This renowned variety, Asparagus officinalis ‘Millennium’, is a top choice for both novice and experienced gardeners due to its exceptional vigor and productivity. As a long-lived perennial, these Millennium Asparagus bare roots establish quickly and provide a bountiful harvest of tender, green spears year after year, potentially for 15 to 25 years with proper care. Known for its adaptability and cold-hardiness, this all-male hybrid ensures that all its energy is directed towards spear production rather than seed formation, leading to a significantly higher yield of uniform, high-quality asparagus.

The ‘Millennium’ variety is particularly celebrated for its resilience, thriving in a wide range of soil types, including heavier clay soils, which makes it a versatile choice for many gardens across the United States. Investing in these Millennium Asparagus bare roots means planting a legacy of fresh, homegrown asparagus, perfect for elevating any meal. Experience the satisfaction of harvesting your own delicious, nutritious spears right from your backyard.

Key Benefits

Choosing Millennium Asparagus bare roots for your garden offers a multitude of advantages, making it an excellent investment for sustainable food production and culinary delight:

• Exceptional Yields: As an all-male hybrid, the ‘Millennium’ asparagus focuses all its energy on spear development, resulting in significantly higher and more consistent yields compared to traditional varieties. You’ll enjoy an abundance of fresh, flavorful spears each season, making it a truly high-yielding asparagus variety.

• Long-Term Productivity: Once established, these perennial plants can produce for 15 to 25 years, offering a continuous supply of fresh asparagus without the need for frequent replanting. This longevity makes them a highly economical and sustainable choice for any garden.

• Superior Cold-Hardiness: The ‘Millennium’ variety is renowned for its excellent cold tolerance, making it suitable for a wide range of climates and extending the growing zones where asparagus can be successfully cultivated. This resilience ensures a reliable crop even in colder regions.

• Adaptable to Various Soils: Unlike some more finicky plants, these Millennium Asparagus bare roots are highly adaptable and can thrive in diverse soil conditions, including heavier clay soils. This flexibility simplifies the planting process and increases success rates for gardeners with different soil compositions.

• Uniform, High-Quality Spears: Expect consistently thick, tender, and flavorful green spears that are perfect for a variety of culinary uses. The uniformity of the spears makes harvesting and preparation a breeze, ensuring a gourmet experience with every bite.

• Disease Resistance: ‘Millennium’ asparagus exhibits good resistance to common asparagus diseases, contributing to its robust health and sustained productivity over many years. This reduces the need for interventions and makes for easier maintenance of your perennial asparagus plants.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for establishing a thriving patch of Millennium Asparagus bare roots that will yield for decades. Asparagus prefers a site with full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Good drainage is paramount, as asparagus roots can rot in waterlogged conditions. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and fertility. The ideal soil pH is between 6.5 and 7.0. Dig a trench about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide, mounding some soil in the bottom. Spread the roots of each bare root crown over the mound and cover with 2-3 inches of soil, leaving the remaining trench to be filled gradually as the spears grow. Space crowns 12-18 inches apart in the trench, with rows 3-5 feet apart.

Water newly planted Millennium Asparagus bare roots regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy, especially during dry periods. Once established, asparagus is relatively drought-tolerant but will benefit from deep watering during prolonged dry spells. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or compost. The first two years are crucial for establishing a strong root system; avoid harvesting any spears during the first year, and only sparingly in the second year. This allows the plant to put all its energy into developing robust crowns, ensuring a productive future. After the second year, harvest spears when they are 6-10 inches tall by snapping them off at ground level. Stop harvesting when spears become thin, typically in late June. Allow the ferny foliage to grow throughout the summer to replenish energy to the roots, and cut it back after it turns yellow or brown in late fall or early winter. This care routine will ensure your growing asparagus from bare roots project is a success.

Size & Details

This offering includes 20 Millennium Asparagus bare roots, ready for planting. Each bare root crown is typically 1-2 years old, providing a strong start for your asparagus patch. These are dormant roots, shipped without soil or foliage, making them ideal for transplanting directly into your prepared garden bed. The ‘Millennium’ variety is an all-male hybrid, ensuring that all plant energy is directed towards spear production. Once mature, individual spears can grow 6-10 inches tall with a diameter of 1/2 to 3/4 inch. With proper care, these perennial asparagus plants will establish and begin producing harvestable spears in their third year, continuing for up to 25 years. They are known for their vigorous growth and ability to thrive in USDA Zones 3-8, making them a versatile choice for many climates. The mature fern-like foliage can reach heights of 4-6 feet, providing an attractive backdrop in the garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: While the spears are harvested when 6-10 inches tall, the fern-like foliage of mature Millennium Asparagus bare roots can grow to be 4-6 feet tall and wide during the summer months, providing energy for the following year’s crop.

• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Asparagus is an outdoor perennial vegetable that thrives in a dedicated garden bed. It requires open space and direct sunlight to produce well and is not suitable for indoor cultivation.

• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Asparagus requires careful preparation and patience in its first two years, but once established, it is relatively low-maintenance. The initial setup and delayed gratification are the main challenges, but the long-term rewards are significant for these high-yielding asparagus plants.

• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your order will arrive as 20 Millennium Asparagus bare roots. These are dormant, living root crowns, carefully packaged without soil or foliage, ready for immediate planting upon arrival.

• Q: Is it shipped in soil? A: No, bare roots are shipped without soil. This is the standard and most effective way to transport dormant perennial plants, ensuring they are ready to be planted directly into your garden bed.

• Q: When is the best time to plant these bare roots? A: The best time to plant Millennium Asparagus bare roots is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. This allows the roots to establish well before the heat of summer.

• Q: What’s the minimum temperature these plants can withstand? A: The ‘Millennium’ variety is known for its excellent cold-hardy asparagus characteristics and can thrive in USDA Zones 3-8, tolerating very cold winter temperatures once established.

• Q: How long until I can harvest asparagus? A: It is recommended to wait until the third year after planting your Millennium Asparagus bare roots for a full harvest. A light harvest may be possible in the second year, but no harvesting should occur in the first year to allow for strong root development.

• Q: Can I grow these in containers? A: While technically possible, growing asparagus in containers is challenging due to its extensive root system and long-term perennial nature. A dedicated garden bed is strongly recommended for best results and longevity of your perennial asparagus plants.

• Q: What kind of soil does Millennium Asparagus prefer? A: Millennium Asparagus bare roots prefer well-draining soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. They are notably adaptable and can tolerate heavier clay soils if amended with organic matter to improve drainage.