Mary Washington

Family: Asparagaceae Vegetable

Sweet, tender spears emerge with a clean, grassy fragrance and a gentle, buttery bite—Mary Washington asparagus is prized for its reliable, home-garden harvest.

The spears are medium-thick with a graceful taper and a classic pale green to creamy hue, delivering a crisp-tender texture that holds beautifully from first rise through the season. Grow Mary Washington for elegant springtime spears that shine in fresh preparations, quick sautés, and light sauces, with enough character for pickling and preserving.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 730 DaysHabit: Perennial_Crown

Botanical illustration of Mary Washington

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Growing note: Zone 6b has only 174 frost-free days — shorter than this crop's 730-day maturity. Outdoor planting is not viable; use protected cultivation.

Milestone	Date
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Growing Approach	Protected Environment Only

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	730
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Perennial_Crown
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	50
Min Night Temp (°F)	45
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Mary Washington asparagus gives you medium-thick spears with a crisp-tender center, so it survives a fast sauté without turning stringy. It’s sweet and grassy enough to stand up to lemon and butter, while parmesan and eggs love that clean spring finish.

Best Uses

quick hot sautés (high heat, short time) to keep the snap
lemon-butter pan sauces that cling to medium-thick spears
char-grill/roast then hit with flaky salt and black pepper
quick pickle for tangy, crunchy snacking

Flavor Profile

clean grassy sweetness crisp-tender bite gentle buttery flavor light, mineral finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic parmesan butter olive oil eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Asparagus officinalis (Mary Washington), and how can I stop it?

Watch for asparagus beetles (adults and larvae) that chew spears and leave ragged foliage; remove beetles by hand early, then repeat checks weekly. If you see purple-brown lesions and a weak, declining fern, it can be asparagus rust—remove infected fronds promptly and improve airflow so spears and ferns dry quickly after rain.

How often should I water Mary Washington asparagus during the main growing phase (spears and fern growth)?

Water deeply so the soil stays evenly moist from spear emergence through full fern growth, typically about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and soil type. Use slow, targeted watering to wet the root zone, and avoid letting beds dry out completely between waterings because fern growth and spear thickness suffer.

How do I tell when Mary Washington asparagus is ready to harvest?

Harvest when spears are firm, tightly closed at the tips, and about pencil-thick (roughly 1/4–1/2 inch to start for Mary Washington home beds). Stop harvesting when spears become thin or highly needle-like compared to earlier harvests, then allow the remaining spears to grow into ferns for next year’s energy.

Mary Washington

Planting Schedule

Crop Dates

Crop Details

Culinary Notes

Frequently Asked Questions