Jersey Giant Asparagus

‘Jersey Giant’ is a productive, all-male hybrid of garden asparagus, grown primarily for its edible spring spears and long-lived perennial crowns. Its fernlike summer growth replenishes the crown after harvest, so an established bed can provide a recurring crop while adding fine green texture to an edible garden. ## Cultivar traits The [Rutgers-origin cultivar study](https://journals.ashs.org/downloadpdf/view/journals/hortsci/20/6/article-p1141.pdf) documents ‘Jersey Giant’ as an all-male hybrid developed from Rutgers breeding lines and reports strong yield performance against older standards, including Mary Washington. [University of Minnesota Extension](https://extension.umn.edu/garden-and-home/yard-and-garden/gardening-in-minnesota/growing-asparagus) lists Jersey Giant among popular, high-yielding Jersey cultivars and notes that all-male plants do not set seed. The [Oregon State University variety guide](https://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/oregon-vegetables/asparagus-0) also classifies Jersey Giant among all-male varieties. ## Planting and harvest Choose a sunny site with deep, fertile soil and good drainage; asparagus crowns remain in place for many years, so prepare the bed carefully and control perennial weeds before planting. Allow young crowns to establish before harvesting. During harvest, stop cutting early enough for the remaining spears to develop into leafy ferns and restore crown reserves. The current size range is consistent with the taller mature fern growth reported for garden asparagus; actual height and spread vary with age, climate, and harvest practice. ## Maintenance Keep the bed evenly supplied with moisture during establishment and fern growth, and maintain weed control without hoeing deeply near the crowns. After the harvest period, let healthy spears grow into ferns. Cut back dry fern growth in late winter or early spring before new spears emerge.