Ashwagandha is an evergreen woody perennial shrub to 6ft tall in its native habitat of the hot and dry topics. Here it grows to about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide in one season. It produces small light green flowers which then form attractive reddish-orange berries concealed inside transparent paper coverings, similar to how a tomatillo grows. In fact Ashwagandha and Tomatillos are very closely related, and were once placed in the genus Physalis. Germination/Sowing Seeds germinate very easily once the soil temp reaches an average of 21C. If grown as an annual, Ashwagandha is best started early in the spring to provide an extended growing season. Harvesting In the fall of the first or second year the roots may be harvested and can be used fresh or dried for tinctures or teas