🌿 Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
herbs
perennial shrub (grown as annual in temperate)
☀️ Sun
Full Sun
💧 Water
Low to Moderate
🗺️ Zones
4-9
🧪 Soil pH
7.0-8.0 (tolerates alkaline; prefers well-drained sandy loam)
📏 Spacing
12-18 in. apart, 24 in. between rows
⏱️ Maturity
150-180 days (from seed); roots harvested when berries turn red, about 5-6 months
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (5)
Basil repels whiteflies and mosquitoes that affect ashwagandha; both prefer well-drained soil and warm conditions.
Nasturtium acts as a trap crop for aphids, drawing them away from ashwagandha; both tolerate low-fertility soil. IMPORTANT management caveat: without active management, nasturtiums can become a SOURCE of aphids that migrate to nearby crops. Either remove aphid-infested nasturtium plants promptly, or treat the trap crop itself to eliminate the aphid colony before it spreads. Strategic placement within 4-5 feet of protected crops is key.
Yarrow attracts predatory wasps and hoverflies that control pests on ashwagandha; both thrive in poor, dry soils.
Chamomile accumulates calcium, potassium, and sulfur in soil, improving nutrient availability for ashwagandha; both are drought-tolerant.
Marigolds deter root-knot nematodes and many pests that threaten ashwagandha roots; strong pest-suppressing companion.
⚠️ Keep Apart (2)
Growth inhibition or competition
⚠️ heavy nitrogen-fixers too close
Growth inhibition or competition
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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