Over the last 12 years, however, they have also been producing some of the finest quality asparagus that money can buy. Jersey Asparagus Farms, Inc. specializes in Jersey male hybrids, including Jersey Giant, Jersey Gem, Jersey Knight, and Jersey King. Jersey male hybrids yield high quality spears with tight heads.
Female plants produce berries, which eventually drop to the ground and germinate.
Over time, they initiate seedlings, which grow into a canopy where insects and bacteria can breed. Jersey males, however, do not produce these berries, thus avoiding this breeding ground for pestilence. The end result is a naturally healthier crop which can be virtually chemical-free. Jersey male hybrids have been developed by Rutgers University scientists utilizing over 1,000 genetic crosses, spanning more than 30 years. These varieties were selected for their high yielding, vigorous growth and tolerance to fusarium crown, root rot, and rust.