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This new type of asparagus has many
characteristics of green asparagus but
offers something new for the asparagus
connoisseur. The spears produced by Sweet
Purple have several qualities which make it
quite different than common green asparagus.
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The
deep-burgundy coloration produced in
these spears is the most striking
difference between the purple and green
varieties.*
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The spears
are generally larger and much more
tender than its green counterpart.
The vascular bundles have less lignin
per spear, which make the spears less
stringy. This allows the cook to use the
entire spear with very little waste.
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Sweet purple
asparagus has 20% higher sugar
content. Because of this extra
sweetness, this vegetable is often eaten
raw. Some upscale restaurants garnish
salads with purple asparagus. When
cooked, the sweetness gives this
asparagus a mild, nutty flavor.
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Growing Tips
that are unique to
Sweet Purple Asparagus |
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Keep the
humidity low within the canopy. This
variety is susceptible to rust.
a) Use drip or buried drip if
possible
b) avoid use of overhead
sprinklers
c) Plant rows so that the
prevailing
winds move down the row, keeping
the plants drier.
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Use mulch
and/or pre-emergent herbicides for weed
suppression. Due to lack of fiber
in the spears, the fern tends to lie
down in the furrows, making weed control
difficult. (The lack of fiber in
the spears is the reason Sweet Purple is
so tender).
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* Applying vinegar or lemon juice to spears
prior to cooking will help to retain the
purple coloration. Otherwise, cooking this
variety will result in varying degrees of
color loss.
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