Ashwagandha Withania somnifera

If this Indian perennial was growing in its homeland it would grow into a small shrub about three feet in height. But here in the NW we can only grow it for one season. The plant has wooly grayish leaves and small green flowers reminiscent of its kin in the Solanaceae family. The small reddish-orange fruits are surrounded by a papery bract like a tomatillo. Most years in our area the season is long enough for the plant to bear fruits, but not always.

Seed-starting: If you start your tomatoes from seed you may as well grow some Ashwaganda. Start seeds in the late March indoors or in a heated greenhouse. You will need artificial lighting if you want to start your plants indoors. Also as houses have much less humidity be sure to keep an eye on the moisture in the pots, you don’t want them to dry out completely.  When the plants grow to about two inches tall, I usually move them from their starter trays and into 4 inch starter pots. When you move them outdoors do so gradually, a couple hours of morning light the first day, a few more the next, while still bringing them inside at night. When you do start to leave them outside put them in a cold frame or something similar for the plants till them acclimatize. Generally in our area sensitive plants can be kept outside by the middle of May. Just be sure the night temperature doesn’t go below 50 degrees.

Site: The hottest, driest piece of earth you have! Plant them about one foot apart. A good one for that dry spot in the corner where not much else will grow. Just make sure to loosen heavy clay soils first!

Harvest: The roots in early November here in the NW. They can take a light frost but do keep an eye on them, an extended early cold period could destroy your roots. Easy to dig, I find I can get under them quite easily with a digging fork. 

Medicine: Ashwaganda is a classic adaptogen. But while most adaptogens, like ginseng, are warming and stimulating, Ashwaganda is a more relaxing adaptogen. So Ashwaganda has been used for nervous exhaustion, anxiety, fatigue, and stress induced insomnia. Basically whenever a stressing agent is creating excess in the body, it helps the body adapt. It is also used for taxed adrenals and endocrine function.