Sweet Purple Asparagus

Sweet Purple is a purple-speared garden asparagus cultivar grown for tender, low-fiber shoots with a sweet, mildly nutty flavor. Its burgundy color is most vivid raw and fades toward green with cooking; after the harvest season, the plant develops the airy, fern-like foliage typical of asparagus. [Cutter Asparagus Seed](https://www.asparagusseed.com/sweetpurple.htm) identifies Sweet Purple as its own purple line and describes its flavor and cooking color change. ### Edible harvest Harvest only from established crowns: [Iowa State University Extension](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2020/04/planting-asparagus-home-garden) advises leaving asparagus unharvested for its first two years, then harvesting in the third and later seasons. Cut spears while firm and before their tips open. The productive fern that follows replenishes the crown, so avoid removing all foliage after harvest. ### Site and soil Give asparagus an open, sunny position with fertile, deeply prepared soil that drains well. Allow a permanent bed to remain in place; crowns can produce for many years. ## Maintenance Keep the bed weed-free and water during establishment and dry spells. Cutter notes that this cultivar is susceptible to rust, so use drip irrigation when practical, avoid prolonged wet foliage, and allow airflow through the fern canopy. Do not harvest young crowns before they have had time to build reserves.