Newly harvested seeds should be placed in moist, sifted peat moss in a plastic bag and kept under refrigeration until they can be planted. Sow shallowly in prepared bed in forest or shade garden. The plant shoot arises from the seed, emerging from the ground as a single, vining stem without cotyledon leaves. The first true leaf develops in the fifth week after germination. Fresh seeds sown in the fall will begin to exhibit germination in the spring as the soil warms.
Some seeds can remain dormant for up to two years.
Thin out previous year s growths or cut back to two or three nodes in late winter. Aphids, whitefly and spider mite may damage foliage of plants under cover. Roots are harvested in autumn and fruits collected when ripe, and dried for liquid extracts, decoctions, powders and tinctures. To harvest, wait until the seed is ripened and disseminated prior to digging the mother plant for its root. It s best to wait until there are a number of healthy young plants before harvesting.