{"product_id":"jersey-knight-asparagus","title":"Jersey Knight Asparagus","description":"\u003ch1\u003eAn All-Male Asparagus Bred for Decades of Thick, Tender Spears\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJersey Knight Asparagus (\u003cem\u003eAsparagus officinalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Jersey Knight') is a vigorous, all-male hybrid that channels its energy into producing thick, tender spears instead of seed — so you get higher yields and almost no weedy volunteer seedlings. It's disease-resistant, cold-hardy, and a true long-term investment: a well-tended bed produces for 15–20 years. Whether you're starting a backyard patch in Edina, filling a raised bed in Maple Grove, or planting a permanent food garden in Woodbury — Jersey Knight is a dependable perennial vegetable for zone 4b–5a gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eJersey Knight Asparagus Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAsparagus officinalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Jersey Knight'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePerennial vegetable (sold as 1-year crowns)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFerns reach 4–5 feet; spears harvested at 7–9 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12–18 inches apart in rows 4–5 feet apart\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6–8 hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — 1–2 inches per week, especially while establishing\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeep, loose, well-draining soil rich in organic matter; pH 6.5–7.5. Loosen Minnesota clay and add compost.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight harvest in year 2, full harvest from year 3; cut spears for 6–8 weeks each spring\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProductive Lifespan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20 years from a well-prepared bed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFully hardy; cut dead ferns back after frost\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eJersey Knight Asparagus Uses in Minnesota Gardens\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA permanent edible bed\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause asparagus lives for decades, give it its own dedicated bed or a corner of the vegetable garden where it won't be disturbed by tilling — a back row in a Plymouth garden is ideal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRaised beds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRaised beds suit asparagus well in the Twin Cities, giving the deep, loose, well-draining soil its roots crave and warming earlier in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEdible landscaping\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tall, ferny summer foliage is genuinely ornamental — use it as a feathery green backdrop in an edible border in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Jersey Knight Asparagus in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant crowns in spring (late April–May) as soon as the soil can be worked and the threat of hard frost has passed. This gives the crowns a full season to establish before winter. Fall planting is not recommended for asparagus crowns in our climate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Jersey Knight Asparagus\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig a trench 6–8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Work plenty of compost into the bottom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMake a low ridge of soil along the trench and drape each crown's roots over it, spacing crowns 12–18 inches apart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCover the crowns with 2–3 inches of soil to start. As shoots grow through the season, gradually fill the trench until level.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep the bed weed-free — asparagus hates competition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 2–3 inches with straw or shredded leaves to suppress weeds and hold moisture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not harvest the first year; let the ferns grow to build strong roots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Jersey Knight Asparagus in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvide 1–2 inches of water per week while crowns establish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged — crowns rot in standing water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop supplemental watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished beds are fairly drought-tolerant but yield best with 1 inch of water per week during dry spells, especially during the spring harvest window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen can I start harvesting?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTake a light harvest (a couple of weeks) in year two, then a full 6–8 week harvest from year three on. Patience early pays off in decades of strong spears.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does \"all-male\" mean and why does it matter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll-male hybrids like Jersey Knight put their energy into spears rather than berries and seed, so they out-yield older varieties and rarely seed weedy volunteers into the bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I cut the ferns down?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLet the ferns grow all summer to feed the roots, then cut them to the ground after they brown in late fall. Mulch for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeritage Raspberry — an easy everbearing fruit for the edible garden\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConsort Currant — a hardy, productive fruiting shrub\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants for Twin Cities gardens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1 Gallon","offer_id":54312905572657,"sku":null,"price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/jersey-knight-asparagus.jpg?v=1779557843","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/jersey-knight-asparagus","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}