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Chives vs Mary Washington Asparagus
Allium schoenoprasum
Asparagus officinalis Mary Washington
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
Chives are small bulbous perennials commonly used as herbs in cooking for a mild onion like flavour. Chives also add ornamental benefits to your yard with their tubular grass-like leaves and clusters of pale purple flowers. The flower heads can also be used as a garnish or in oils.
It is best to harvest Chives from the base to maintain the attractive clumps. If the flowers are not dead-headed, it will self-seed. Planting our overwintered chives will give you a head start in your vegetable garden.
The Mary Washington Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that produces edible shoots or spears that may be harvested in April-May. This plant is an heirloom which produces large green stalks that can be harvested earlier than other asparagus cultivars, and the spears feature a crisp, nutty flavor. There are male and female plants, and the females can grow into towering ferns after going to seed for the year.
The Mary Washington Asparagus gets its name from the mother of George Washington, who was married to the plant breeder Augustine Washington. For a more reliable asparagus crop, it is recommended that you don’t harvest in the first year and allow it to establish its root systems.