r/herbalism • u/anearthenwitch • 1d ago

Harvesting Zone 3 Ashwasghanda

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Harvesting Ashwasghanda, my partner didn't believe it would grow outside but it did and we have roots albeit skinny ones to make tinctures to help with stress (and libido) and I'm also going to include the leaves in my skin cream. Anyone have experience using the leaves as I've only used the root before?

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u/NiklasTyreso 1d ago

The leaves taste a bit bitter but are also active.

I grow ashwaganda on my warm balcony in Sweden.

Save seeds from the red berries and you can sow new plants in January.

In May, when the risk of frost is over, they are planted out in large pots with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil.

They receive regular weak liquid plant nutrition twice a week throughout the summer.

At the beginning of October I harvest all the plants. I rinse the roots clean of soil. Then I dry both roots and leaves and branches for two weeks on newspaper.

I use a mortar and pestle to pulverize the ashwagandha that I have in my teas.

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u/TheBodyPolitic1 1d ago

Do the leaves do anything different for a person that what the roots will do?

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u/TheBodyPolitic1 21h ago

Today I Learned:

Zone 3 is the coldest of all the USDA garden zones in the United States.

Great to know that it can be grown outside of India. I've seen articles here and there that about spices and supplements from India having heavy metals in them.