Ashitaba, (Angelica keiskei koidzumi) seeds, organic
$9.95
Family: Carrot (Apiaceae)
Biennial hardy to Zone 6 to 12
(HACHIJO-SOU, Tomorrow’s Leaf) Biennial native to Hachijojima Island in Japan. Edible-leaved angelica. Green stemmed. It is called “tomorrow’s leaf” because when harvesting one leaf from the plant, you can expect to see a new one “tomorrow.” The plant does indeed rejuvenate itself very quickly. Traditional usage: life extension, infection. Plant prefers potted culture in an unheated greenhouse or may be grown outdoors in maritime regions.
A note on Ashitaba seed: The seeds grow paired like a clam. Sometimes they break apart, producing 2 winged seeds. Sometimes they stay fused together. When you plant the single winged seed, you get one plant. When you plant the paired seeds, you often get 2 plants. We count paired seeds as one seed, which means the packet generally is overpacked (more than 20 actual seeds). The seeds (especially once individualized) are very fragile. We double-bubble these when we ship, to try to prohibit breakage. Handle with care! Seed is confirmed of high germination rate–no refunds or replacements on this seed.
Cultivation from seeds: Soak seeds overnight in cool, non-chlorinated water and then refrigerate the seeds (approximately 40 degrees F) in moist medium for 30 days. The moist medium could be moist sand, moist potting soil, moist coir or moist peat. Note that our recommendation is moist, not sodden, and that we are recommending refrigeration not freezing. After this pretreatment, plant the (still moist) seeds. Sow on surface, barely cover with soil and press in firmly and keep evenly moist until germination. When we say to barely cover with soil, we truly do mean to use a very thin layer. Actually, the best orientation is to half-cover the seed with soil and tamp firmly, leaving a portion of the seed showing to the light. Use a greenhouse, shadehouse or grow lights. Germination occurs 15 days after sowing. Seedlings are slow-growing and will require about 60 days to transplant. Once past the seedling stage, the plant is fast growing.
Packet contains 20 seeds
Gram contains ~100 seeds
Certified Organically Grown
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Question
Christen –
Hi Richo – so when you say Ashitaba enjoys potted culture but you also state it’s hardy in zone 6, once the plant is past the seedling stage, can I put it on the ground or not? I’m just a bit confused and I would appreciate any insight to help me! Thanks!
Christen
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Richo Cech –
Hi Christen,
At this time of year, unless you’re in a zone 8 or warmer, especially a maritime zone 8, then you should keep the plant potted and protected.
Richo
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Christen –
Thank you!
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Question
Jordi Albert –
Hi Richo!
I would like to confirm that the seeds must be kept in the fridge for 30 days for their stratification. I’ve seen other sources that says only 3 days, that’s my doubt.
Thanks a lot in advance,
Jordi
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Richo Cech –
Hello Jordi,
To be clear the 30 day refrigeration is in moist medium, not just putting the naked seeds in the fridge. Other methods can certainly be tried, and it is possible that some results will occur, but for best response, cold stratify moist for 30 days, plant warm, and expect germ in 15 days. I just tested this seed and have a good population of seedlings as a result. Richo
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Question
Mandy –
Non-GMO seeds?
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Richo Cech –
hi mandy, yes, they’re certified organically grown by us, the real thing, we wouldn’t know how to gmo if we wanted to. r
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Megan Olmstead (verified owner) –
I can’t think of many vegetables worth overwintering indoors. Ashitaba is worth it. Taboolee with ashitaba instead of parsley and lots of lemon juice. Food/medicine perfection. Thank you for the good seeds and for all the information on how to grow it
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Richo Cech –
Hi Megan, You are giving me a taste for tabouli! Richo
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Minh V Nguyen –
Hi
are Ashitaba seeds available for order now?
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Richo Cech –
Yes, if you can put it in your cart, we are ready to send it!
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Wendy –
How do you use this plant and what is the benefits?
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Richo Cech –
hello wendy, please visit my blog on the subject, here’s the url:
https://blog.strictlymedicinalseeds.com/ashitaba-mystical-reiso-of-japan/
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Allan Morga –
Where’s your location? Phone # ?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Allan,
We’re in Williams, Oregon–Southern Oregon, USA. Just scroll down to the bottom of the homepage for the full address and e-mail. Please correspond with us via e-mail, we have no resources for a call center. richo
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Question
Megan Olmstead (verified owner) –
Could overwintered plants handle evening temps in the lower 40°F? Besides slightly chilly nights the days are truly spring in NW GA. They have grown nicely this winter but their poor faces are smushed against the window, as if they are ready to bust through the glass and into the sunlight. Can bring them out for light and back in for the evenings… ?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Megan,
Right, must be getting warm enough in Georgia by now to set them outdoors. Bring them in if it gets too cold. 40 degree temps are not a problem–freezing temps potentially a problem. r
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Robin –
I use this daily! I eat it raw, I smoothie it, I cook in with greens, salad, and dry for tea and ashitaba powder. I feel great… been using for years all because of Richo
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Question
Sheryl Burkhalter (verified owner) –
How many seeds in 1 g? Cost is much higher than 20 seed packet, but on purchasing former the confirmation came back with a 20 seed packet?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Sold out on 1 g packets, only 20 seed packets left in stock–hurry.
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alejandrina –
cual es el clima apropiado para esta planta
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Richo Cech –
cálido y rico en nutrientes
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Question
Natalie –
Can angelica keiskei plant be grown in the west Indies..tropics? If so do you ship seeds to the west Indies?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Yes, Ashitaba grows excellently in the tropics. We greenhouse it here in our Zone 7. The plant is also very good for warm maritime areas. We do ship worldwide but cannot guarantee receipt due to the potential problems with customs.
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Dean Khalis –
Do you have ashitaba seeds in stock? I need it to send out for some friends.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Yes, you are at the right place, we do have plenty of newly harvested Ashitaba seed in stock.
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Maureen –
Where do the seeds come from? Japan, Korea, US exactly what country is the source.
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Admin Richo Cech –
Williams, Oregon USA. Grown on our farm.
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Deborah Johnson –
Are you able to send Ashitaba seeds to New Zealand
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Admin Richo Cech –
When we make our new harvest late this year or in early 2020, then yes. r
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malinda schieberl –
I am in Texas and would love some please!
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Admin Richo Cech –
Please click on “waitlist” for ashitaba seeds–the fresh crop will not be available until February which is also the best time to sow the seeds, and fresh seeds work best.
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Question
B –
Is this plant not a perennial rather than a biennial?
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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, then it may live for longer than 2 years.
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Admin Richo Cech –
No replacements on Ashitaba seed! Ashitaba seeds are PAIRED like the 2 halves of a clam. Technically speaking we should be packaging up 20 “halves” per packet. Practically speaking the seeds are often stuck together, doubles are counted as “1s”, and doubles should be planted that way (given the right conditions 2 seedlings will emerge closely together, and can be separated at transplant). If the paired seeds are split apart this does not mean they are “broken.” We double-bubble all ashitaba seed shipments to assure that the fragile seeds make it to you in good shape. Ashitaba seeds are rare, they are tested viable, they are sold as-is.
More on preferred growth conditions: The plants prefer rich, deep, evermoist, well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. As these leaves mature they begin to go yellow and die back, with new green leaves coming on from the central growth points. Many growers are concerned when this happens, but the fact is that this is the way the plant grows, and to take care of it, you must cut off these older leaves in order to encourage new growth. The plant craves even temperatures and does best on coast or in greenhouse, planted in a half drum of compost.
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Nicole –
Need a little help first time growing plants! Can you recommend an organic soil brand that I can use to grow plants? And do you sale this plant pre grown?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Nicole,
Here’s a link to the ashitaba plants this year, which are exceptional now in 2019 https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/ashitaba-angelica-keiskei-koidzumi-potted-plant-organic/
Regarding potting soil, the more organic compost you use, the more ashitaba you get. There is no limit. However if you don’t make compost at your house, then you can use “black gold” or some other commercial soil mix. Make sure it says “OMRI CERTIFIED” or “ORGANIcALLY CERTIFIED” on the label. Steer away from heavy manures and perlite.
Richo
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Loreen –
1. Another website about ashitaba said you have started selling baby plants (not just seeds) for those who don’t want to start from seeds. Do you?
2. I live outside Phoenix. If I want to grow these outdoors, will I have to have a small green house to protect from our vicious, unrelenting sun?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Yes, I do think the greenhouse would be good, to raise the humidity. Yes, here’s the link to the ashitaba plants https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/ashitaba-angelica-keiskei-koidzumi-potted-plant-organic/
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Greg Lewis (verified owner) –
If I won’t be able to start germinating the seeds for 6-8 weeks, is it better to delay the stratification process or extend it past 30 days?
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Admin Richo Cech –
I have had more trouble not giving it 30 days than giving it more than 30 days. Use peat or coir, and make sure its not too damp. r
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Bradley Capron –
I’ve grown your seed very successfully before. I highly recommend it. I grazed it in my greenhouse regularly, and dried and powdered it for green drink/tea additions. Do you have any info on your variety’s medicinal profile? I have read that the high content medicinal type ashitaba produces a certain more greenish sap, due to its native growing area in Japan. The sap on my plants was more whitish. Just curious if you have any info, especially as I’ve seen Ashitaba show up in some plant nurseries the last few years, as a landscape plant. Its a very slow gerninator, and fickle, to those others out there, and definitely needs all the cold strat. Once it gets going, it jumps up fast. Nice plant, would recommend.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Bradley,
I believe if you click on the stars you can leave a review. The strongest sap is yellow, which is always the color I get when growing the plant, not white or green. This is as it should be, because of the peculiar color of the chalcones. Actually, yes, this particular strain has been tested extensively and shown to be rich in a wide assortment of chalcones. You can check some of the technical data on this blog and the references cited. https://blog.strictlymedicinalseeds.com/ashitaba-mystical-reiso-of-japan/
Best regards,
Richo
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Anne –
Hi, can I grow them in the weather of 75 F degrees or higher?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Anne, Yes, that sounds good. Richo
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