VegetableAsparagus
UC 157 Asparagus
UC 157 is a classic F1 hybrid asparagus developed at UC Riverside, engineered for early, uniform spears and exceptional heat tolerance. This perennial produces tall, upright plants reaching 3 to 5 feet and thrives across hardiness zones 2 through 12, making it one of the most adaptable asparagus varieties for diverse climates. Unlike many asparagus varieties that demand patience, UC 157 establishes quickly and rewards you with heavy yields starting in year two, while its hybrid vigor and disease resistance to Fusarium Wilt mean fewer worries and more consistent harvests.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-12
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Rich In Organic Matter
Growth Stats
60 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-12
Size
60in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
UC 157 delivers the uniformity and early productivity that professional growers and serious home gardeners crave. The spears emerge with remarkable consistency, cutting cleanly and reliably season after season. Its heat tolerance sets it apart from traditional varieties, allowing it to thrive in hot summers without bolting prematurely or producing thin, inferior spears. The F1 hybrid vigor ensures vigorous establishment and strong crown development, which translates directly to a long productive lifespan.
Common Uses
UC 157 asparagus is grown for its tender, flavorful spears harvested in spring and early summer. The spears are prized fresh, grilled, steamed, roasted, or blanched and served with butter, hollandaise, or simply good olive oil and salt. The uniform size and quality make it equally at home on the dinner table of a home gardener or in the wholesale market, where consistency and appearance matter greatly.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds in seed trays or pots filled with moist seed-starting mix, maintaining soil temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge to prevent legginess. Transplant seedlings into individual pots once they have developed their first true leaves.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant into the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed and is workable. Space transplants 18 inches apart in rows 60 inches apart, setting the crown at or just below soil level. Water thoroughly after planting and maintain consistent moisture for the first month as roots establish.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds after soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit in spring. Plant seeds directly into garden soil, spacing them appropriately for thinning, then thin seedlings to the final 18-inch spacing once they develop their first true leaves.
Harvesting
Begin harvest in year two of growth, cutting lightly to allow the crown to continue strengthening. In subsequent years, cut spears when they reach 7 to 9 inches tall, snapping them off near the base where they naturally break or slicing cleanly with a knife just below soil level. Harvest spears when they are firm and upright with tightly closed tips; once tips begin to loosen or flower buds form, spears are past their peak. Continue harvesting for 8 to 10 weeks in spring, then stop to allow the plant to build reserves. The uniform growth habit of UC 157 means spears mature at predictable intervals, often allowing daily or every-other-day harvesting during peak season.
Pruning
Allow the mature fern-like foliage to grow throughout the season after harvesting ends (typically mid-June in most regions); this photosynthetic growth replenishes crown reserves for the next year's production. In late fall or early winter, cut back the dried, yellowed fronds to ground level and remove them from the bed. Do not prune or cut during active growth unless harvesting spears.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Asparagus officinalis
Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Asparagus
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (I)SPM (I)
History & Origin
“UC 157 emerged from UC Riverside's asparagus breeding program, a legacy of agricultural research aimed at creating superior varieties for commercial production and home gardens alike. This hybrid represents decades of careful selection for two critical traits: early maturity and heat tolerance. By crossing specific parent lines, breeders achieved a variety that combines the uniformity and productivity professional growers demand with the reliability home gardeners appreciate. The result is an asparagus that has become a standard in both market gardens and backyard beds across North America.”