Ashwagandha plant, botanically Withania somnifera also called Indian Ginseng, is a medicinal perennial plant. Ashwagandha roots are harvested and used in Ayurveda to cure impotency, boost vigour and immune system and for many other benefits.
I have discussed this in my previous video few months back.
Now this plant, has evolved from a small 6 inch plant few months ago. Then it started flowering and finally produced these seed pods.
Actually these seed pods take a long time from 3 to 4 months to mature. Once these green pods are turning brown and some bright red small cute tomato like structure is visible, you can harvest these ashwagandha seed pods. You can either pluck the pods or even take out the whole branches.
Then peel out the brown dry cover to see the lovely looking Ashwagandha berry. This looks so beautiful and smaller than a cherry tomato and you feel like eating it. Some also call it as Ashwagandha cherry or berry or even winter cherry. And Beware, its not edible. Am not sure whether its poisonous or what compounds it contains. If you know, please mention this in comments below the video.
Well. You can take these berries and first dry them out or even crush them and dry under sunlight for 2 days and harvest ashwagandha seeds. So you will have thousands of seeds from one single plant. I will grow a few more from these seeds and distribute the rest of the seeds to my friends.
You can also harvest the roots of ashwagandha, by removing the plant and cutting out the roots.
So, there we have have it folks, that was a quick update on Ashwagandha seed pod harvesting. Please gimme a thumbs up if you liked it and share the video by clicking on social media icons below.
It is found in many consumer products including beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, or ointments for minor burns and sunburns.
Aloe vera is a stemless, or very short-stemmed plant growing to 60 to 100 centimeter tall, spreading by offsets.
The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf is serrated, and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 centimeter tall, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2 to 3 centimeter long.
Now coming to the uses of Aloe Vera:
Aloe vera is used in traditional medicine, mainly in treatment of skin disorders, that is, cosmetics.
Aloe vera is used on facial tissues, where it is promoted as a moisturiser , and anti-irritant to reduce chafing of the nose. Cosmetic companies , commonly add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, shaving cream, or shampoos. A review of academic literature notes that its inclusion in many hygiene products is due to its “moisturizing emollient effect”.
Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects. One important Point to note:
Some people recommend eating aloe vera leaf. But please note that, Oral ingestion of aloe vera, however, may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea which in turn can decrease the absorption of drugs. IARC studies have found ingested non-decolorized liquid aloe vera to be carcinogenic in animals, and state that it is a possible carcinogen in humans as well.
Now coming to Aloe Vera Plant Growth:
In pots, the species requires well-drained, sandy potting soil and bright, sunny conditions. Aloe plants can burn under too much sun or shrivel when the pot does not drain water. The use of a good-quality commercial propagation mix or packaged “cacti and succulent mix” is recommended, as they allow good drainage.
Potted plants should be allowed to completely dry before rewatering – that means overwatering can kill these plants.
When potted, aloes can become crowded with “pups” or babies, growing from the sides of the “mother plant”.
Plants that have become crowded should be divided and repotted to allow room for further growth and help prevent pest infestations.
During winter, Aloe vera may become dormant, during which little moisture is required. In areas that receive frost or snow, the species is best kept indoors or in heated glasshouses.