Conover's Colossal Asparagus
Conover's Colossal is the old American asparagus with the fat spears. S. B. Conover, a New York produce merchant, selected it in the 1860s for spear size and yield. It went on sale in 1868 and became the most popular American asparagus of the 1800s. In Britain it still holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
The spears are bright green with purple tips, and they can reach an inch thick while staying tender. It's an open-pollinated heirloom, so a bed has both male and female plants. Female plants grow the larger spears and set red berries in summer. The berries aren't edible.
These are young plants in quart pots. Plant them in full sun and soil that drains well, then let them establish for two to three years before you harvest. After that, a bed can produce every spring for 15 years or more.
- Botanical name: Asparagus officinalis
- Sold as: One young plant in a quart pot
- USDA zones: 3 to 8
- Type: Open-pollinated heirloom, first sold in 1868
- Spears: Bright green with purple tips, up to 1 inch thick
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Well drained, pH 6.5 to 7.0
- Planting depth: In a trench 6 to 8 inches deep, filled in as the plant grows
- Spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart, in rows at least 3 feet apart
- Height: Ferns grow 3 to 5 feet tall
- Harvest: Spring, starting two to three years after planting
Plant Details
Quick Facts
- Botanical
- Asparagus officinalis
- Type
- Heirloom open-pollinated
- Fruit Color
- Bright green spears with purple tips
- Fruit Taste
- Mild and tender (a vegetable, not a fruit)
- Thorns
- Thornless
Growing Conditions
- USDA Zones
- 3-8
- Sun Needs
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.5-7.0
- Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Mature Height
- 3-5 ft
Pollination & Care
- Pollination
- Asparagus is grown for its spears, not fruit. Plants are male or female, and female plants set red berries that aren't edible.
- Difficulty
- Easy
Harvest
- Season
- April - June
Growing Zones: 3–8
Hardy down to zone 3 (-40 to -30°F)
Match the shaded zones above to find your growing region. Source: USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
How we ship
Most orders go out via UPS with a 2-3 day transit time to most of the continental U.S. Plants are shipped dormant in late winter / early spring, packed wet to protect the root systems, and bundled by variety so they're ready to plant on arrival.
Hawaii & Alaska orders
For HI and AK addresses we ship via USPS. The other major carriers either don't service these areas for live plants or charge prohibitive rates that would more than double the cost of your order. USPS gives us a reliable, affordable path to get plants to you in good condition.
Want UPS or FedEx anyway?
If you're in HI or AK and want to use UPS or FedEx and cover the upgraded shipping cost, reach out to us immediately after placing your order with your order number. We'll send you the available options and a quote, and you can pick what works for you.
Region overview
Continental U.S.
UPS Ground, 2-3 day transit. Free shipping on orders $100+.
Hawaii & Alaska
USPS Priority Mail. Reach out post-order if you want a UPS/FedEx upgrade quote.
Arrive-alive guarantee
Every order is backed by our 30-day arrive-alive guarantee. If a plant doesn't make it through transit, we'll replace it. Just send us a photo within 30 days of delivery.
Questions?
Call or text us at (720) 630-3715, or email support@fruitbushes.com. We answer within one business day.
