UC 157

Family: Asparagaceae Vegetable

Tender spears emerge with a refined, sweet-green allure—UC 157 delivers a steady harvest of straight, uniform shoots that feel crisp and succulent at first bite.

The texture is notably firm yet yielding, with a clean, asparagus-forward flavor that stands up beautifully in both quick roasts and bright fresh preparations. Grow UC 157 for a long-lived bed that rewards patience with elegant spears season after season.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 730 DaysHabit: Perennial_Crown

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)	32
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

UC 157’s spears are built for eating at crisp-tender—firm enough to hold a fast sear, sweet enough that lemon and butter don’t fight them. When you keep the cook time short, the flavor stays asparagus-forward and doesn’t turn starchy or stringy.

Best Uses

hot-fast roast where tips brown while stalks stay crisp-tender
shave or quick-steam and finish with lemon/butter for a bright, tight bite
grill or sear and serve with a peppery vinaigrette to highlight char sweetness
fold into omelets or frittatas for a clean, non-mushy green texture

Flavor Profile

clean sweet-green flavor crisp-tender spears with a firm bite subtle grassy freshness that sweetens with heat light, mineral snap

Kitchen Pairings

lemon butter parmesan garlic olive oil eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common asparagus pest or disease, and how can I manage it at home?

One of the most frequent disease issues for Asparagus officinalis is asparagus rust (orange-brown pustules on fern-like foliage). Remove and destroy infected fronds, then start a preventive schedule in the next season by keeping plants well-spaced and watering at soil level to keep leaves drier. If rust recurs, use a labeled fungicide for asparagus early in the fern stage, following the label exactly.

How often should I water asparagus during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I aim for?

During active spear growth and the fern-folage period, keep the top 4–6 inches of soil evenly moist—about 1 inch of water per week depending on heat and rainfall. Water deeply (not daily light sprinkling) so moisture reaches the crown roots, and avoid letting the bed swing between dry and soggy, which stresses crowns and reduces spear quality. In hot weather, check soil moisture by feel; if it dries below about a knuckle depth, water again.

How do I tell when Asparagus officinalis spears are ready to harvest?

Harvest spears when they are firm and tight-tipped, typically about 6–8 inches tall with a thickness you can break with light pressure (commonly around a pencil thickness, but harvest consistently for your bed). Spear tips should not be fully open or spreading—once tips loosen or flare, quality drops. Stop harvesting when the spears thin noticeably or after about 6–8 weeks, then allow ferns to grow to rebuild the crown.

UC 157

Planting Schedule

Crop Dates

Crop Details

Culinary Notes

Frequently Asked Questions