Sweet Purple Asparagus

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.  25 seeds   PLANTING Asparagus officinalis Germination: 10- 30 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-80ºF 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 70-85ºF soil temperature. Transplant after last frost in a 4-6” deep trench, 10-15" apart. Fill in the trench as the seedlings grow. Sowing Outdoors: We recommend starting them indoors then transplanting out. Sow after last frost when soil temperature is over 70ºF. Sow 2-3 seeds every 10-15", 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.