VegetableAsparagus
UC 157 F2 Asparagus
Green Asparagus
UC 157 F2 is a hybrid asparagus variety developed at the University of California, Riverside in 1978, and it remains the most widely planted asparagus variety for fresh market production worldwide. This perennial produces heavy yields of uniform, dark green spears that reach 36 to 48 inches tall, thriving in hardiness zones 2 through 7. You'll wait three years before the first harvest, but once established, this variety delivers reliable annual production in home gardens, farmers markets, and commercial fields alike.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-7
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Rich In Organic Matter
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
—
Height
—
Width
2 in
Spacing
3–3
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-7
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Developed by Frank Southers and Frank Takatori at UC Riverside nearly 50 years ago, UC 157 F2 became the asparagus industry standard for good reason: it produces abundant, uniformly dark green spears with exceptional vigor and consistency. The three-year journey to first harvest requires patience, but the payoff is a perennial that continues yielding heavily year after year once established. Its proven track record in both home gardens and commercial operations speaks to its reliability and productivity.
Common Uses
UC 157 F2 asparagus is grown for fresh harvest and consumption. The uniform dark green spears are valued in both home kitchens and commercial markets, where their consistent size and quality make them reliable for preparation, cooking, and sale.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Spring
First Harvest
Early Spring (2nd-3rd Year After Planting)
Last Harvest
Late Spring
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start UC 157 F2 seed indoors in a germination environment of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant seedlings outdoors when soil temperatures warm and frost danger has passed, typically in spring after the last frost date for your zone.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days before moving them to the garden. Transplant when soil has warmed in spring and frost danger is past. Space plants 2 inches apart within rows spaced 18 inches apart.
Harvesting
UC 157 F2 requires three years of establishment before the first harvest. Once the plant reaches productive age, harvest spears by cutting them at or just below soil level when they reach 6 to 8 inches tall and before the tips begin to open or flatten. Harvest regularly during the spring season to encourage continued production. Stop harvesting in early summer to allow the plant to build energy reserves for the following year.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Asparagus L.
Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Asparagus
Duration
Perennial
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (I)SPM (I)
History & Origin
“UC 157 F2 emerged from deliberate breeding work at the University of California, Riverside in 1978, when breeders Frank Southers and Frank Takatori created this hybrid to address the demands of fresh market asparagus production. Rather than select from existing heirloom lines, they developed a hybrid specifically engineered for the uniform, dark green spears and heavy yields that commercial growers and quality-conscious home gardeners demanded. The variety's success was immediate and lasting; it quickly became the dominant asparagus hybrid planted worldwide and remains so today, a testament to the breeders' understanding of what growers actually needed in the field.”