Asparagus 'Pacific Purple' Crown

Overview

Experience the extraordinary with Asparagus 'Pacific Purple', a stunning all-male F1 hybrid variety that transforms your vegetable garden with its spectacular deep purple spears. This remarkable cultivar combines exceptional visual appeal with outstanding flavour, producing vibrant purple spears that retain their striking colour even after cooking. Perfect for gardeners who want to create something truly special in their kitchen garden whilst enjoying superior yields and gourmet quality that rivals the finest restaurants.

Key Features

• Variety Type: All-male F1 hybrid

• Planting Season: March to May

• Harvest Period: May to June

• Mature Height: 90cm

• Spread: 60cm

• Spear Characteristics: Deep purple colour with excellent thickness and flavour

• Productive Lifespan: 15-20 years once established

• Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -15 to -10 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H5)

Spectacular Purple Spears

Asparagus 'Pacific Purple' produces magnificent deep purple spears that create a stunning visual impact in both garden and kitchen. The rich purple colouration extends throughout the entire spear, maintaining its vibrant hue even after cooking, making it perfect for creating eye-catching dishes. As an all-male hybrid, every ounce of the plant's energy goes into producing these exceptional spears rather than seed formation, ensuring consistently high quality and remarkable visual appeal.

Outstanding Flavour Profile

Beyond its striking appearance, 'Pacific Purple' delivers exceptional taste with a rich, sweet flavour that's notably more intense than traditional green varieties. The tender texture and complex flavour profile make these purple spears highly prized by chefs and food enthusiasts. The unique combination of visual drama and superior taste transforms ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Superior Garden Performance

This variety excels in productivity, delivering abundant harvests that significantly exceed traditional asparagus types. The extended harvest season from early May through late June provides gardeners with weeks of continuous picking, ensuring maximum return from your asparagus investment. Once established, 'Pacific Purple' maintains consistent high yields year after year, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking both beauty and productivity.

Optimal Growing Position

Asparagus 'Pacific Purple' performs best in a sunny, sheltered location receiving at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The enhanced colour development requires good light exposure, so choose the brightest spot in your vegetable garden. Protection from strong winds is essential, as this permanent planting will occupy the same space for decades. The warmest, most stable area of your garden will promote the finest spear development and most vibrant colouration.

Soil Requirements

Exceptional soil preparation is crucial for achieving the best colour and flavour from 'Pacific Purple'. This variety thrives in rich, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.5-7.5. Heavy clay soils must be improved with generous additions of compost, well-rotted manure, and coarse grit to ensure proper drainage. Sandy soils benefit from substantial organic matter additions to improve moisture retention and fertility. Consider raised bed cultivation if drainage remains problematic.

Planting Instructions

Plant your asparagus crowns between March and May when soil temperatures are warming and conditions are suitable. Create trenches 20cm deep, spacing crowns 30cm apart within rows and maintaining 90cm between rows. Position each crown with roots spread naturally and cover with 5cm of soil initially. As new growth emerges throughout the season, gradually backfill the trench until it reaches the surrounding soil level.

Establishment Phase

The first two years require patience and restraint to ensure long-term success. Although some spears may be tempting to harvest in the second year, allowing all growth to develop into full ferny foliage builds the strong root system essential for decades of productive harvesting. This establishment investment pays tremendous dividends with superior yields and plant longevity once maturity is reached.

Harvesting Guidelines

Begin regular harvesting in the third year when plants are fully established. The productive season typically spans from early April through late June, providing 10-12 weeks of continuous purple spear production. Harvest spears when they reach 15-20cm in height and before tips begin to open. Use a sharp knife to cut cleanly just below soil level, taking care not to damage nearby emerging spears.

Annual Care Programme

Apply balanced fertiliser in early spring before spear emergence begins, followed by regular feeding throughout the active growing season. After harvesting concludes, allow the characteristic ferny foliage to develop completely as this feeds the crown for next year's production. Only remove the yellowed foliage in late autumn after natural die-back occurs. Apply winter mulch around plants to protect crowns and suppress weeds.

Culinary Showcase

• Fresh Preparation: Lightly steam for 3-4 minutes to preserve vibrant purple colour

• Roasting: Drizzle with olive oil and roast at 200°C for 12-15 minutes

• Grilling: Excellent for barbecue cooking with the colour intensifying beautifully

• Stir-frying: Quick cooking maintains colour and crisp texture

• Salads: Blanched purple spears create stunning visual contrast

• Gourmet Presentations: Perfect for restaurant-quality plating and special occasions

Garden Design Integration

Plan carefully for permanent placement as these plants will remain productive for 15-20 years. The striking purple spears create an attractive focal point during harvest season, while the tall summer foliage provides excellent background screening. Consider positioning where the unique colour can be appreciated and where the mature size won't overshadow other crops.

Companion Planting

Asparagus 'Pacific Purple' grows well alongside tomatoes, herbs such as parsley and basil, and many flowering plants that complement its unique colouring. Avoid planting near onions, garlic, or potatoes which may compete for nutrients. During establishment years, utilise inter-row spacing for quick-growing crops like lettuce, radishes, or colourful annual flowers that echo the purple theme.

What's Included

Your Asparagus 'Pacific Purple' arrives as carefully selected dormant crowns, stored under optimal conditions to maintain peak viability. Each crown is chosen for vigour and genetic purity to ensure the distinctive purple colouration and superior performance characteristics.

Growing Success Tips

Success with this unique variety requires excellent soil preparation, patient establishment, and consistent seasonal care. The investment in proper growing conditions will be rewarded with decades of spectacular harvests that provide both culinary excellence and garden beauty. Maintain regular feeding, avoid over-harvesting during early years, and protect the developing foliage to ensure maximum crown development. Your 'Pacific Purple' asparagus bed will become a treasured feature of your garden, providing years of distinctive harvests that create memorable meals and impressive garden displays.