Asparagus Gijnlim F1: How to Cultivate an Early, Productive Crop

Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus Gijnlim F1 is a highly productive, early-cropping variety renowned for its exceptional yields and strong disease resistance. With its bright green spears and tightly closed tips, this variety is perfect for home gardeners and commercial growers. If you want to enjoy delicious, homegrown asparagus year after year, Asparagus Gijnlim F1 is a fantastic choice.

This outstanding asparagus variety quickly establishes and produces high yields of tender spears with a great flavour. It has excellent tolerance to common diseases like Stemphylium and Puccinia. The spears measure between 16 and 24mm in diameter and emerge early in the season, making it one of the first varieties to harvest in spring. Asparagus Gijnlim F1 has been awarded the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, ensuring its reliability and high performance.

Growing asparagus requires a little patience, but once established, plants can produce spears for up to 20 years. Proper soil preparation, planting techniques, and maintenance will ensure a long-lasting and bountiful crop.

Crowns are best planted in early spring between March and May. Dig trenches 30cm wide and 20cm deep. Spread the roots of each crown over a small ridge of soil at the base of the trench, spacing them 45cm apart. Cover the crowns with 7cm of soil, gradually filling the trench as the plants grow.

Remove all weeds by hand to prevent competition for nutrients. Avoid deep hoeing around the crowns as this can damage emerging spears.

Resist the temptation to harvest spears in the first year to allow plants to establish strong root systems. In the second year, you can harvest light, cutting spears when they reach 20cm in height. By the third year, you can enjoy a full harvest, stopping at the end of May to allow the plants to replenish their energy.

Gijnlim would be at the top of my list if I had more space in the garden. Its early cropping habit and generous yields make it one of the best asparagus varieties for UK growers. What I like is its resilience — it handles poor weather well and shrugs off common diseases, making a real difference when you’re trying to establish a long-term crop. I also appreciate how quickly it settles in and starts producing decent spears by year two. Even though I’m not growing it right now, I’ve seen it thrive in friends’ gardens and allotments, and the flavour is spot on — sweet, crisp, and full of that fresh, green taste you only get from homegrown asparagus. If you’re setting up a permanent bed and want something dependable, Gijnlim is a brilliant investment.

• Asparagus Gijnlim F1 is an early, high-yielding variety with excellent disease resistance
• Plant crowns in well-prepared, well-drained soil in a sunny location
• Avoid harvesting spears in the first year to allow strong root development
• Water regularly and mulch to retain moisture and control weeds
• Harvest spears from the second year, stopping at the end of May
• Maintain the bed with annual mulching and weed removal for long-term productivity

With the proper care, Asparagus Gijnlim F1 will reward you with fresh, delicious spears every spring for years to come.

To see the RHS article, please click here

For more information on Fruit for your garden, please click here

Want to learn about other Asparagus varieties? Read about Asparagus Guelph Eclipse here.

Q: What is Asparagus Gijnlim?

A: Asparagus Gijnlim is a high-yielding F1 hybrid of Asparagus officinalis, renowned for producing early, bright green spears with attractive purple tips. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its reliable performance in the UK climate. This vigorous perennial is quick to establish and, with the proper care, can last up to 20 years. The spears are tender, full of flavour, and ideal for both home gardeners and allotment growers. Suitable for growing in well-drained soil, it offers excellent results in both sandy and clay soils with improved drainage.

Q: When is the best time for planting Asparagus Gijnlim crowns?

A: The best time for spring planting of Asparagus Gijnlim crowns is between March and May, once the soil has warmed. Crowns are best planted without delay into a prepared asparagus bed that has been enriched with well-rotted manure or garden compost. Remove all weeds and dig long trenches deep by 30cm, filling the bottom of the trench with 7cm of compost or rotted manure. Spread the roots evenly, keeping crowns just visible, and space them at a distance of 45cm. This F1 variety establishes quickly, offering an early and reliable harvest in subsequent years.

Q: How do I plant Asparagus Gijnlim crowns correctly?

A: For best results, prepare the bed well in advance. Dig a trench to a depth of 20cm–30cm, with the base of the trench filled with 7cm of compost or well-rotted manure. Spread the roots of each crown carefully over the mound, ensuring the crowns are just visible above ground level. Maintain a distance of 45cm between crowns and allow 30–45cm between rows. Firm the soil and water immediately after planting. If your soil is heavy, consider a raised bed to improve drainage. Resist harvesting spears in the first year to allow strong root development.

Q: How should I care for Asparagus Gijnlim during the growing season?

A: Keep the asparagus bed well-weeded and apply a mulch of manure or compost each spring to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. A dressing of general-purpose feed in early spring will support healthy growth—water during dry spells, especially in the first year. Resist the temptation to harvest in the first season; in the second year, limit harvesting to a few weeks. From the third year onwards, spears can be cut from April to the end of May. Leaving the tops to grow into feathery foliage will help build reserves for the following year.

Q: How and when should I harvest Asparagus Gijnlim?

A: In the second year after planting asparagus crowns, harvesting should be limited to just a few spears to avoid weakening the plants. From the third year onwards, spears can be cut regularly between April and May, with harvesting stopping at the end of May to allow the plants to recover. Use a sharp knife to cut spears when they reach 18cm in height, just below ground level. Avoid over-harvesting, as the feathery ferns that develop afterwards are essential for replenishing the crown’s energy for the next season.

Q: Where can I buy Asparagus Gijnlim crowns?

A: Asparagus Gijnlim crowns are widely available from UK-based garden centres, plant nurseries, and reputable online retailers. Bare-root crowns can be ordered for spring planting, ensuring they are planted without delay for the best establishment. When buying online, choose suppliers that offer high-quality, healthy crowns, ideally in packs of 10 crowns for larger asparagus beds.