Plants ordered today will be shipped in Mid April 2023.
Ashitaba, (Angelica keiskei koidzumi), potted plant, organic
$8.50
Family: Carrot (Apiaceae)
Hardy to Zone 7 to 12.
(HACHIJO-SOU, Tomorrow’s Leaf) Biennial native to Hachijojima Island in Japan. This is the standard type with green leaves and stems. High chlorophyll plant with yellow sap, unique among Angelicas due to its edibility and the presence of both B 12 and the flavonoids known as “chalcones.” Mature size is about 4 feet wide and flowering to about 5 feet tall. The plant requires warm temperatures for optimal growth–75 to 85 degrees F. They need at least 6 hours sunlight daily to thrive! It is often best to greenhouse them, although coastal climates (such as San Francisco area) seem to work pretty well for outdoor cultivation, and zone 8 growers may find that these plants do fine in regular open garden conditions. For best results, plant into a large container of compost. Space plants 3 feet apart.
Potted plant certified organically grown
Question
Didi –
I got my 1st ashitaba from you years ago. I collected the seeds ,even kept them in the fridge a few months, but the germination rate was horrible. Can you help?
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Richo Cech –
hi didi, thanks for staying in touch and i think its pretty cool that you were able to raise an ashitaba to seed stage. if you’re collecting seeds from just one plant the germination will not be so good–its an apiaceae, they like to outcross. Anyhoo, the best way we can help you at this stage is to provide more ashitaba plants. They are extraordinary. richo
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Question
Heather Stanton (verified owner) –
I have one of these coming. I happened across a you tube video that says it likes dappled shade, as in a forest edge? This would seem to be incorrect as you are saying at least 6 hours of sun? Maybe in the hottest months of summer it would like some afternoon shade (I’m in zone 5b in southern NY state but these days, we can get to 85-90 on a number of days in July and even August).
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Richo Cech –
hello heather, its a bit hard to extrapolate due to regional variations. this is an herb endemic to semitropical islands. it does best in a maritime aspect and will take full sun there. up country, dappled shade is a good bet. insufficient light is not good for the plant. it withstands full sunlight especially in the humidity of a greenhouse. in a hot summer garden, it might suffer. best approach–what you did–order a plant–they are particularly nice this year–and play around with it, find out what it likes, half-close your eyes and survey the landscape and see if a spot glows out for it. r
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hstanton6 (verified owner) –
I think I will put it in a pot, in a spot that get 6-8 hours sunlight and then afternoon shade, and water it often (so that the soil doesn’t dry out, without water logging it) and see how it likes it. We are quite humid here in NY State, (it’s a “humid continental climate”, we get many days of precipitation throughout the year (although less in late June, July, August, and September)); but our summers have been getting warmer than they used to be, especially July and early August (more days 85-to low 90’s); so some shade in the hottest part of the day should work. If it seems overheated I will move it to 6 hours of sun and the rest of the day shade. Thanks for making this plant available…it sounds like a wonder!
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Alice –
Hi Richo, Will this ashitaba plant do well in SW Florida, zone 9b/10a? It’s in the high 90’s now in July, ’22, but we will get at least one week of close to freezing in the winter. Will it survive outside for me all year? Or at least come back?
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Richo Cech –
Hi alice, the ashitaba is a monocarpic biennial–it dies after flowering. so yes, it will overwinter the first year, you’re really warm there, and then you can expect it to flower in the second year. the main thing is to use it when you have it–an invigorating food. richo
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Question
Alyston –
Hi Richo, If I plant ashitaba out in the landscape in the San Francisco Bay Area will they become invasive? PS the three I bought previously are doing really well in containers. Thanks!!
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Richo Cech –
hello alyston, goodness, no, hardly an invasive plant, a rare and desirable angelica! r
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Question
Candice –
Can I plant this in Washington State? The ashitaba?
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Richo Cech –
hi candice, it will do ok as a summer annual in any garden, really. to overwinter, it needs to be in a greenhouse or coastal. r
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Question
Jaclyn (verified owner) –
Would like to know how long did it take for you to grow the Ashitaba potted plant for sale? Thank you
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Richo Cech –
Hi Jaclyn,
We started the seeds in the autumn of 2021, so now in spring of 2022 they are rather nicely developed 5-month-olds. r
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Question
Jaclyn (verified owner) –
We have been enjoying tea from the vibrant Ashitaba plant I purchased from your store, and were able to save some seeds after harvest.
Question:
Can I leave the plant in the ground after seeds harvest? Will it sprout more leaves come spring?
Thank you
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Richo Cech –
hi there, good for you, that is actually rather stellar. getting ashitaba seeds is not that easy. anyhow, no, it is monocarpic–once it flowers and seeds, the root will hold on for a bit (and you can dig and use the root at that stage) and then eventually rot away. r
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Kate Boyington (verified owner) –
This is a great tea plant. I keep it indoors for winter here in Minnesota and it’s a very easy plant to care for. The tea has a very fresh taste.
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Question
Bonnie –
I’m zone 5 b. Is it crazy to try to accommodate this plant..? Indoor wintering, lights? Thank you.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Bonnie,
In 5b one grows this as a summer annual and makes use of it throughout the growing season. As a biennial you really don’t get anything much in the second year except a few large leaves and the seeds, and lacking a heated greenhouse it isn’t practical to think of overwintering ashitaba in zone 5.
Richo
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Question
A. Stead –
Will Ashitaba grow outside in an area with a couple of freezes each winter? We are in Portland, Oregon and do occasionally freeze in Jan or Feb – never for long though and the grown rarely freezes.
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Richo Cech –
Hello A.,
Portland is a marginal zone for overwintering ashitaba. It will overwinter but not happily. Better Newport, or a greenhouse. Richo
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mbenziger (verified owner) –
Hello, good morning. When will you have more smaller ashitaba plants available? Can we give you an order for ashitaba to be shipped before the end of the year? Thank you mike benziger mbenziger@aol.com
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Richo Cech –
Hello! Large ashitaba are currently order-able–on sale and will ship before the end of the year–at this point specifically in October. If you wait until this coming monday (8/9/2021) you’ll also be able to take advantage of a 10% sitewide discount. I do have a large population of new ashitaba coming on and I hope to have them sized-up for sale starting in January, for delivery in the spring. Richo
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Question
Mary –
I’m trying to get ready before my plants arrive. How big of a container should I have ready for each plant? Would a squat 15-gallon pot do? A tall 15-gallon pot? Something else? Thank you.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Mary,
OK, that makes sense, directions do come with it, and its good to be prepared. I think it works best to put to successively larger pots starting with a 1-gallon and moving up to a 15 gallon. I do think the tall pot would be better–the plant is taprooted.
Richo
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Question
Jaclyn (verified owner) –
The ashitaba plant I planted in good compost last December is finally showing some growth as the weather warms in zone 10b, however , as shown in picture, some leaves turned from green to yellow very soon. Is it normal ? It does get at least 4 hour sun and soil I kept moist. I think it may be the cold weather last few months. Wonder if you can give me some advice ? Thank you
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Richo Cech –
Hello Jaclyn,
A nice photo like that is worth a thousand words. Plant looks healthy and primed to grow quite large this season. The yellow is caused by the chalcones–the active constituent–shining through. Richo
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Question
victoria-0228 –
How would I go about saving the seeds from Ashitaba? Is it best to let them dry on the plant and then collect?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Victoria, It is best to let them mature on the plant and remove before dry. You can tell they are mature because the “bivalve” starts to split apart. That’s when you harvest them. They should still be pretty green. r
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Question
John –
Hi! Can you send some ashitaba seeds to Greece? I see, you do not send plants, what about seeds?
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Richo Cech –
Sorry, no, Greece is part of the EU and new restrictions are in place–we cannot ship plants or seeds to Greece. r
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Helda Asiusin –
hi, are you able to ship the plant/ seed to Sabah?
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Richo Cech –
Sorry, we don’t think that would be practical.
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MaryEllen –
Do you ship in California United State?
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Richo Cech –
Yes, we’re just right here above you in Oregon. r
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Question
Ness –
Can This plant grow in the Midwest, if I keep it inside the house during winter and put it outside in our deck during spring, summer and fall? Thank you
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Richo Cech –
Hello Ness, Yes, people do have success growing Ashitaba in the midwest. It likes the humid days and warm nights. Choose fertile soil in the shade. Make use of the plant while you have it–overwintering really works best in a heated greenhouse. Richo
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Question
Manni –
Are you shipping ashitaba plants to ontario Canada?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Manni,
We can’t ship plants to Canada, only seeds and books.
R
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silvanus –
other than books, do you ship images of the plants, elsewhere? I want a picture of it on my lunchroom and in my chapel
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Richo Cech –
how would we do this?
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Question
Claudia Borchert –
Hallo!
Do you ship to Germany?
I can‘t find Angelica Keiskei for sale in Europe!
Kindly regards
Claudia Borchert
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Richo Cech –
Hello Claudia, Due to relatively new regulations passed by the EU, we cannot ship seeds to Germany. Very sorry.
Richo
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Claudia Borchert –
Hallo Richo,
can you ship potted plants to EU? If I would buy a few plants, some will probably survive the flight, I suppose.
Kindly regards
Claudia
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Richo Cech –
Hello Claudia, Sorry, no, plant shipping internationally is even more restricted than seed shipping internationally. You can provide an address in the USA and we’ll send the seeds there. Richo
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Question
emilie –
When do you start selling the red ashitaba plants?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Emilie,
We start selling standard ashitaba plants again in September. The reiso red variety is quite rare–we’ll bring it on again when we can, no particular projected date as of yet.
Richo
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ferraria –
Crossing my fingers….
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Richo Cech –
not sure what is meant by this but it is true our ashitaba starts this year are the best we’ve ever managed. r
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Lizzie (verified owner) –
I’m successfully growing ashitaba in raised beds in the mission district of San Francisco. The plants probably get about 5-6 hours of dappled sun daily. They like moisture, so planting them in full sun here wasn’t as successful. I love these plants!
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Richo Cech –
Lizzie,
Thank you for this informative post. It is the nuances of plant placement that allow for the growing of rare species.
Richo
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Maria –
Where are you located in the US?
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Admin Judy –
Williams, Oregon.
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Maria –
Hi-If I order now when can we get the plants here in Texas Houston. Thanks a lot.
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Admin Judy –
We ship plant orders via USPS priority 3 day or UPS Mondays and Tuesdays only. If you place a plant order now, it will be scheduled to go out next Monday or Tuesday and get there by the weekend.
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Question
kilcorse (verified owner) –
I order on Feb 20 and have not received my order yet (4/25). What happened?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Thank you for bringing this up. Due to high demand, we had to grow another set of Ashitaba plants. All remaining backorders for Ashjitaba will ship May 6th. The new plants are glorious.
Richo
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Wendy Ward –
Hi Rich,
Since I live in an apartment and can only grow plants in pots, when I buy this starter plant, how many week/months will I need to move it to a 1 gal then 2 gal then 5 gal then 7 gal container?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Wend, Pretty much according to the growth of the plant. According to the directions that come with the plant, transplant to a gallon pot on receipt, then when the roots fill that pot, transplant up to a 3 gallon, and when the roots fill that pot, go to a 5 gallon to finish. The plant wants pure compost, regular watering and a warm, sunny exposure.
Richo
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Wendy Ward –
Wendi Phan on Youtube, in California, grows her plants in the shade b/c direct sunlight burns the plants. I wonder if I should buy 3 plants and test out in the humid and hot Houston weather. One under the apartment stairs that gets bright indirect light, one in afternoon sun, one in shade that gets dapple sunlight.
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Diana –
Hi Wendy,
Direct sun in California is different from direct sun in Texas. I grow mine in full sun in Southern Oregon without leaf burn, and even in uncooled greenhouse where the solarity is reduced by 15% but temperatures can easily reach 110 degrees. Humidity is also an important factor. In Texas, it probably does make sense to give dappled sunlight.
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Normita –
Can I grow ashitaba from seed?
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Richo Cech –
yes, ashitaba seeds from the new crop are in stock. click around until you find the seeds item. r
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Question
Robert Grant –
“Plants ordered today will ship within 3 weeks.” How do I order today? I only get the wish list option.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Robert,
Yes, I agree that some of this stock language can be confusing. Only applies to plants that are currently selling. I will endeavor to e-mail you when ashitaba comes back in stockl, but it won’t be long, keep checking back. Richo
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Andy G in Corvallis (verified owner) –
I ordered mine 3/24 and didn’t receive yet. It would be nice to get some communication on expected shipment date, and an update if that changes.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Crystal/Andy,
Thanks for staying in touch. We shipped out our first planting of Ashitaba and expect to ship the second planting omMay 6/7. Thank you for your patience, and yes, everyone was e-mailed about this.
Richo
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Crystal,
Thank you for staying in touch and sorry you haven’t received your plant yet. We shipped the last of our first planting of Ashitaba on April 1 so if you haven’t received a plant yet, our plan is to send you an ashitaba from the second planting, which will be ready to ship around May 6. Sorry for the wait!
Richo
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Jessica Powell (verified owner) –
My plants arrived 2 days after shipping. They were very healthy. It’s been 2 days since they’ve arrived, been repotted, and have perked up nicely. I’m very pleased with my order and look forward to ordering more soon!
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Question
Sean (verified owner) –
I received the plant yesterday and they seems to be in good shape. How far apart I should plant them?
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Admin Richo Cech –
We put them to pots to grow on before transplanting to garden. they will take 2 or 3-foot spacing at that point
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Question
tymothy (verified owner) –
I would like to have half a cup or so of fresh leaves a day. Are 6 plants likely to be enough? How should I harvest in a way that gives me a good supply without hurting plant health?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Tymothy,
Yes, both the leaves and the stems are very good. You wouldn’t be able to harvest right away, but after growing the plants on for some time the plants will size up, and 6 plants would probably suffice, for awhile at least.
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Question
jeff symonds –
i live in zone 4 would it possible to grow as an annual or as a house plant
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Admin Richo Cech –
Only in the greenhouse.
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Omo Fe Oya –
I am 7a. Is it ok for growing on the deck in Charlotte. NC
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Admin Richo Cech –
Yes, although it would grow faster in a greenhouse.
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Question
Omar Garza –
Just read a very good report on the benefits of the plant. Excited to try but wondering, how do you prepare for consumption. Do you make a tea? How much is enough per day? Have you consumed it on a daily basis?
Excited to hear your responses, thanks in advance!
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Omar,
Here
s a snippet from an ashitaba blog that is coming soon:
Despite the convincing historical support for consuming the plant in the fresh or vegetable state, a culture of Ashitaba tea enthusiasts has sprouted up. Hot water is mixed with 2 tablespoonsful of the green-gold powder of dried leaf and stem, stirred and drunk thick. To make the powder, slice the stems and leaves thinly and dry on paper in a warm, well-ventilated area. Turn the pieces to afford even dehydration. When crispy dry, grind thoroughly, then sift out the larger bits, storing the fine, green-gold powder in a light-proof glass receptacle with a tight-fitting lid.
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Patrickhenry –
Hi I live in s/W Florida. My plants did really well through the summer but in the fall they were decimated by caterpillars. They literally ate every thing flowers, leaves and even the seed pods. I was wondering what I could do?
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Admin Richo Cech –
hi Patrickhenry, I too have found that not only are humans attracted to Ashitaba, but diverse insects as well. One would hope this would be limited to pollinators but sometimes aphids or other critters take hold. Watching your plants carefully and taking steps at first sign of infection seems to be the best approach. Remove the affected leaf so that the vermin don’t spread. Spray them off with a strong water spray. Last resort, use a neem-based plant spray. I had to do this one year when a major seed-bearing plant just could not shake the aphids. But normally prevention is the best policy. Richo
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Question
Dan N –
I’m in Zone 10a (inland Orange County, California) Do I have any chance of growing these outdoors? Will the summer be too hash for these plants?
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Admin Richo Cech –
They will take quite a bit of heat, but prefer maritime conditions to desert. Provide shade and spray them down occasionally. Ashitaba is adaptable to Orange Co.
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Alice Luib –
Will this survive in California
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Richo Cech –
Yes, especially in the bay area. r
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Question
McEstes –
I live in Phoenix. What would you recommend? Thanks
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Admin Richo Cech –
greenhouse culture
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Question
Matthew Kelly –
Are there any effective consumable products that you trust that can be purchased if growing a plant is not practicable? Teas, cooking herbs, etc.?
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Admin Richo Cech –
I haven’t purchased the powder because I use home-grown. I do think there are very good powders out there. For the most part you get what you pay for, and the really good ones are quite expensive. richo
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Question
Zach –
Hi, just wondering how far you will ship your plants? I live in Alabama. Thanks!
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Zach,
Anywhere in the USA, including (sweet home) Alabama.
Richo
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William Olenick –
Do you have any seeds?I am in Switzerland and want to trial at 1500 meters in the Alps.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Y”es. here
s the link to the seeds. https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/ashitaba-angelica-standard-keiskei-koidzumi-seeds-organic/
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Question
Emilie –
I bought 2 plants from you . One of them lasted 2 years and the other 3 years. I thought these plants were perennials. Am I wrong?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Ashitaba is biennial and monocarpic. The plant normally goes to flower in the fall of the second year of growth and dies back after that. If you cut back the flowering stalk and prohibit the formation of flowers, or if for some reason it fails to go up to flower in the second year, then it may live for longer than 2 years. The leaves are harvested any time they are big enough to eat, and the root may be dug and utilized right after the maturation of the seeds.
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Question
CATALINA Z. DEL ROSARIO –
i live in daly city, ca. 94015 where the fog is. so, (1) how often do i need to water the plant. (2) how can i have it multiplied. can i cut a stem and just plant it? (3) is it safe to buy it at amazon or home depot (if they carry it)? thanks a lot
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Diana –
Hello Catalina, Ashitaba does well in foggy conditions. It requires less water when the fog is thick–water twice a week or so. The plant may be multiplied only by seed–stem cuttings do not take. This is a rare plant, you cannot buy it at home depot. You might find it on Amazon, or you could buy a certified organic, large and hearty plant through strictly medicinal seeds. Richo
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Question
Cindy –
Do you ship to Canada?
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Admin Richo Cech –
seeds only to Canada, no plants or roots, sorry about that. r
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Question
Lily –
Will this grow well in the Pacific north west region?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Lily, Yes, in a greenhouse. Even an unheated greenhouse is immensely helpful. richo
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Michelle Warren (verified owner) –
I love this plant. It grows well for me in Texas. Just discovered that it is a host plant for black swallowtail butterflies. The caterpillars love it too!
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Maria Esperanza Mateum (verified owner) –
Hello I’m in Houston and can it grow -I need to buy and checking if it can be good to our hot and humid weather
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Richo Cech –
Hello Maria, Yes, hot and humid and shaded is very good for ashitaba. Also, it likes to grow near water and Houston is on the bay so I think it is a very good choice. Also, quite difficult to start from seed, so if you get the plant, then we already did that for you. Richo
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Question
Jolene –
When will sale again for Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei koidzumi) potted plant, organic? thankyou
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Jolene, We will enable plant purchasing starting with the new year. Shipping starts March 15th to the warmer states. Richo
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Question
Luci Belarmino –
Can it be pruned to have more branches, like a papaya tree?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Well, you can cut off a stem with leaf attached, and the plant will make another one from the crown which is at soil level. Since this is an herbaceous plant, it isn’t pruned like a woody plant…
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Tammy Williams (verified owner) –
Great growing, looks wonderful and taste great have been taking little nibbles here and there. 🙂
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Susie (verified owner) –
The quality of Strictly Medicinal’s shipped plants were above expectation, they come with a shipping tracking number to watch carefully so they can be rescued in their time of disruption as soon as possible, they arrived in 48 hours of shipment. Upon reading careful instructions and pulling each plant out, surprisingly they came out nearly glowing, with a few crinkles and bends on only their leaves, they sat upright immediately welcoming their new home. The careful packaging was not limited to keeping them safe from battening, but with wishes of luck, love and health. Kind regards and much gratitude!
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Leticia Hanford –
Good evening,
I would like to buy 3 or 6 of your ashitaba/angelina keister plants.
Please reply
Thank you
Leticia
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Leticia,
Thanks for your interest. Please order online at strictlymedicinalseeds.com. Here’s the link https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/ashitaba-angelica-keiskei-koidzumi-potted-plant-organic/
Richo
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Wesley –
I just ordered a Ashitaba plant..All orders ship in Sept?So this just reserved my order?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Wesley,
We don’t ship plants in August, it is too hot. Plants ordered and paid for in August are shipped first-com, first-served starting in September.
Richo
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Nora –
I ordered six Ashitaba plants and received healthy/vital starts—beautifully packed for shipping. I had questions about best growing conditions and both the phone support and email response were forthright and generous. I’m excited to see how they make themselves at home in my garden. Thank you!
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Baybie Scudder –
This plant is said to help a lot of illnesses. I would like to try it!
BScudder
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