Ashitaba

Medicinal Seeds, Ashitaba, Angelica keiskei koidzumi, Organic, 15 Seeds Per Pack, ashitaba, Gmo free, Organic Gardening, seeds

Name: Ashitaba
Scientific Name: Angelica Keiskei
Family: Apiaceae

Ashitaba is a cold hardy biannual flowering monocarp that is prized for its nutritional and medicinal value of its leaves and stems. Its native home is Japan. It is also called Hachigo-Sou or Tomorrow’s Leaf for its thick growth. The plant will often put out a new sprout after harvest overnight. It looks very similar to Angelica Japonica but Ashitaba is known for its yellow sap and a longer bloom time of white umbels from May to October. As it is a monocarp it only flowers once before dying but if the flower stems are cut before maturity it can be kept herbaceous.
Origination: Japan – Hachijojma Island but grown in other regions.
Recommended Uses: Edible – eat fresh stems and make tea from dried leaves. Good source of flavanoids (and chalcones.) Good for digestion and skin as well as gastrointestinal problems. Claims of B12 have been found false.

Height: 1½ – 4’ tall and wide
Hardiness: down to 20° herbaceous perennial
Flower Color: White
Other Names: Hachigo-Sou or Tomorrow’s Leaf
Maturity: Biannual monocarpic

Growing Instructions:
For best results, soak seeds for 24 hours in cool non-chlorinated water. Place seeds in moist medium such as sand, coir, or peat. Place in the fridge for 30 days keeping moist. Surface sow seeds in greenhouse/indoors in moist medium barely covering with soil. Press seeds into soil and keep moist until germination in 15 days. The seedlings will take about 60 days before transplanting as they are slow-growing at first. Once in the ground they are fast-growing. Plant in well-draining consistently moist humus rich soil. The plant likes fall sun and cooler climates.