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Withania somnifera

Indian Ginseng · Poison Gooseberry · Poisonous Gooseberry · Withania

Family SolanaceaeGenus Withania

A hairy gray-green stem hung with swollen papery husks, and one small green star flower with an orange center, against black.
FruitSAplantsCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Perennial, ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
subshrub or shrubPlants of the World Online
Flower
GreenExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Botswana and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
8-12Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Ashwagandha joins the Sanskrit ashva, horse, and gandha, smell, for the strong horse-like smell of the root. Somnifera means sleep-inducing. Wikipedia: Withania somnifera

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

90% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Withania p. 87Public domain
Show the original text
Withania (Solanaceae). W. somnifera germ. 70L(90% in 1-3 w), 70D(4%), and 70 GA-3(26% in 1 -3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Withania p. 87. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

26% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Withania p. 87Public domain
Show the original text
Withania (Solanaceae). W. somnifera germ. 70L(90% in 1-3 w), 70D(4%), and 70 GA-3(26% in 1 -3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Withania p. 87. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

4% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Withania p. 87Public domain
Show the original text
Withania (Solanaceae). W. somnifera germ. 70L(90% in 1-3 w), 70D(4%), and 70 GA-3(26% in 1 -3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Withania p. 87. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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