Each year it becomes larger and more woody, sprawling up to four feet. We harvest at the end of the third year. Both the root and the seed are valuable. We sell our root to herbal practitioners. We obtained our first seed in 1988 and through trial and error have discovered many of its preferences and aversions.
Astragalus prefers sun and a deep, sandy, well-drained, somewhat alkaline soil.
It does not like mulch or deep cultivation. The crowns of the emerging plants are very sensitive to compost and respond well after they have gained some momentum in the spring. We do not fertilize the plants in the fall. The Astragalus seems to be very resistant to insect damage, mildew, drought and crown rot. This is a very rewarding plant to grow, and one we would like to see in everyone's herb garden.