What is the difference between male and female asparagus?

We all know that some plants have male and female reproductive organs and some have both. What about asparagus? Are there really male or female asparagus? If so, what is the difference between male and female asparagus? Read on to find out the difference between male and female asparagus.

Are there really male or female asparagus?

So there are male and female asparagus? There is no obvious determination of the sex of asparagus, is there? Yes, there are male and female asparagus, and in fact there are signs that indicate the sex of the asparagus.

Determining the sex of asparagus

Asparagusis dioecious, which means that there are male and female plants. The female asparagus produces seeds that look like small red berries. Male plants produce thicker and larger asparagus than females. The flowers of the male plants are also larger and longer than those of the female plants. Male flowers have 6 stamens and a small useless pistil, while female flowers have 6 small non-functional pistils and a well-developed three-lobed stamen.

Male versus female asparagus

In the battle of the sexes, is there a difference between male and female asparagus? As female asparagus produce seeds, they spend a lot of energy for this production. Thus, while the female produces more shoots, they are significantly smaller than their male counterparts. In addition, when seeds fall from the female, new seedlings germinate, causing an overlap in the litter.

In this case, male asparagus seems to have an advantage over female asparagus. In fact, male asparagus is so favoured that new hybrid male asparagus plants are now producing higher yields. These include Giant Jersey, King Jersey and Knight Jersey. If you want the biggest asparagus, these are your best options. These new hybrids also have the advantage of being cold tolerant and fusarium resistant.

If you have planted an older variety or if you are not sure of the sex of your crowns, wait until they bloom to make a distinction. Then, if you wish, you can remove the less productive female asparagus and replace them with more productive male crowns.