'Eclipse' Asparagus

If you think homegrown tomatoes taste good, wait until you try garden-fresh asparagus. Asparagus flavour fades very quickly, so you rarely get to taste fresh asparagus if relying on grocery stores. 

'Eclipse' asparagus is a newer all-male cultivar developed at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Eclipse was bred for cold tolerance and reliable performance in northern climates. It produces thick, straight, tender spears with tight tips and excellent flavour, perfect for fresh harvest or market sales. Exceptionally productive and disease-resistant, it thrives in a wide range of soils and growing conditions across Canada. Eclipse is considered superior to older varieties like Guelph Millennium or Mary Washington.

Asparagus is a perennial and, though it can take several years to get established, an asparagus bed can produce an abundance of spears annually for 15-20+ years. 

Once planted, asparagus is a very low maintenance crop - simply feed your plants once a year in the spring and remove the dead fronds in late fall.

Asparagus Spacing: 

Rows: Space plants 12-18 inches apart and rows 4-5 feet apart.

Beds: If the bed has light and airflow all around it, the plants within can be more densely spaced. Aim for around 2 square feet per plant.

Common names: Eclipse Asparagus, Green Asparagus, White Asparagus

Edible: Shoots
Harvest timing: April 

Scientific name: Asparagus officinalis 'Eclipse'
Light requirements: Full sun 
Full-grown size: 3-6' tall x 2' wide
Hardiness: Zone 3 
Pollination: Self-pollinated and cross-pollinated, but neither are required to produce spears.
Noteworthy: Any variety of asparagus can be grown as white asparagus if deprived of light while emerging in the spring. Try placing a dark pail over several plants at the beginning of the season. White spears have a slightly different flavour and texture and are prized in many regions of Europe.