Mary Washington Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis 'Mary Washington'

vegetable

Mary Washington is the heirloom standard for home asparagus, a hardy, rust-resistant variety producing thick, tender green spears with purple-tinged tips. A long-lived perennial that can crop for fifteen to twenty years from a single planting, it sends up its spears in early spring, rewarding the patience it takes to establish a bed.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Tomatoes — Mutual pest deterrence; tomatoes repel asparagus beetle
• Basil — Repels pests and supports the tomato pairing
• Parsley — Draws beneficial insects to the bed
• Nasturtium — Trap crop for aphids

❌ Keep away from

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Asparagus beetle →

  Handpick adults and eggs, keep the bed clean, and interplant tomatoes

• Rust →

  Grow this resistant variety, space for airflow, and cut down ferns in fall

• Fusarium →

  Plant in well-drained soil and rotate new beds away from old asparagus ground

🌾 Harvest & storage

Resist harvesting for the first two years so the crowns build strength, then take spears for about two weeks in the third spring and for six to eight weeks in following years. Snap or cut the spears at ground level when they are 6 to 8 inches tall and still tight-tipped, and stop harvesting once the new spears thin out, letting the rest fern out.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Asparagus is low in calories and a good source of folate, vitamin K, and vitamin A, with fiber and the prebiotic inulin that supports gut health, plus a range of antioxidants.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Eat the spears. The small red berries that form on mature female plants are toxic and should not be eaten.