Wild Simulated American Ginseng Andy Hankins Extension Specialist - Alternative e Agriculture Virginia State University
A good site for ginseng is a north or east facing slope under Poplar trees that provides at least 75% shade.
Plants that indicate a good site for growing ginseng Plants that indicate a good site for growing ginseng include black cohosh, bloodroot, maiden hair fern, and wild yam.
A one pound bag of ginseng seeds costs $80 to $100. There are about 6,500 seeds per pound.
One and two-year old rootlets can be transplanted into cultivated beds for seed production.
Planting Wild Simulated systems may begin by seeding at a rate of 5 seeds per square foot and thinning to approximately one plant per square foot Normal mortality may eliminate need to thin by year 3
This area had far too many seeds planted initially
This two year planting still needs thinning
Ideal spacing after year 3
Ginseng seeds should be planted in furrows one-inch deep, easily made in the soil surface with a mattock.
A major breakthrough in growing ginseng is the use of gypsum to add Calcium to the forest soil.
Maintenance Wild simulated plantings usually just left alone but may still require protection from pests and diseases Gypsum (calcium sulfate) is often added annularly to both wild simulated and woods cultivated when soil calcium levels are below 2,000 pounds per acre Gypsum adds calcium but does not change ph
Fertilizer All Fertilizers, including organic sources such as manure or compost, bone meal etc. seem to predispose ginseng to diseases Lime (calcium carbonate) raises ph and increases nutrient availability, also leading to diseases Add lime only when ph is below 4.5 Optimal ph may be 5.0 to 5.5
One year-old ginseng plants are only 1 1/ 2 inches tall.
First year plants are susceptible to death by drought First year plants are susceptible to death by drought. Older plants with developed root systems are very drought tolerant.
Two-prong ginseng plants are usually three years of age.
Three-prong ginseng plants, five to seven years of age, produce berries.
Mature four-prong ginseng plants stand about 18 inches high.
Each red berry contains two American ginseng seeds.
Mature plants often self-seed. One and two-year old plants can be seen growing under a three-prong plant.
American ginseng is highly susceptible to fungus diseases such as Alternaria blight.
Diseases Alternaria blight most serious foliar disease May be seed borne Highly contagious Fungicides id required (organic or chemical) Once present, never gone
Alternaria blight lesions
Blight may wipe out an entire garden in weeks
Woods cultivated sites often develop rusty roots
Rust is actually a disease complex without any certain cure
Sandy soils often harbor root knot nematodes
Phytopthora root rot Most devastating disease of field grown ginseng g Uncommon in woodland plantings Always associated with poor drainage Easily diagnosed by complete rot of roots and rancid smell Fungicides of some help (Ridomil or alliette)
Slugs feed on ginseng plants at night, creating ragged holes in the leaves.
Slugs
Both organic and chemical controls are available
Few Insect pests warrant treatment Leaf rolling larvae very common Gray colored aphids reduce growth Cutworms are an occasional problem Wire worms may eat seed but are uncommon in forested environments Root knot nematodes occasional a problem in sandy soils Stem borer a problem in intensive w.c.
Ginseng leaf roller
Gray aphids (plant lice)
Spittlebugs may cause deformed growth
The 4 lined plant bug is another common insect pest
Wild turkeys, grouse, foxes, deer, and bear all like to eat ginseng berries.
Hunting may help to reduce local populations
Mice are cute..but.
Much of Southwest Virginia has excellent climate and soils for ginseng.
A cultivated garden of ginseng growing under artificial shade.
The most limiting factor in ginseng production in Virginia is human theft or poaching.
Security becomes an issue when ginseng attains value
This is in Kentucky
Modern technology can be helpful Remote video cameras available Motion sensor alarm systems such as Critter Gitters Marking tools such as fluorescent dyes, coded ribbons etc. help to catch crooks Ginseng cannot hide from poachers Invisible growers cannot be poached Poachers versus thieves
Posted Signs are of little value
This is a bit more serious
These seven-year old ginseng roots harvested in Culpeper County sold for $480 per pound in 2000.
Harvesting Most wild simulated or woods cultivated ginseng g is dug by hand in the fall Roots weigh most in late fall Wild simulated ginseng is usually grown for a period of at least 8 years The older the roots, the more valuable 25 year old ginseng is worth 5 to 10 times the price of 8 year old
There are over 400 ginseng growers in Virginia. Most of them prefer to remain anonymous.
How many pounds of dried ginseng roots will I harvest if I plant a pound of ginseng seeds?
Wild simulated ginseng roots are quite variable. All of these roots were seven years old, harvested from the same bed.
The U S Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a new The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a new regulation that ginseng roots must be at least five years old before they can be legally sold.
Ginseng roots should be dried at temperatures of 90 to 100 degrees F. under forced air movement.
Drying Ginseng Ginseng is best dried slowly over a period of days to weeks at temperatures of 80 to 100 degrees with good air circulation Spread roots in a single layer on a screen Warm attics work well Do not dry in oven
Roots will loose two thirds of their weight when completely dry
Properly dried root stores indefinitely
There are 45 buyers of ginseng certified by the Office of There are 45 buyers of ginseng certified by the Office of Plant Protection of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a huge industry for farmers in the Northeast region of China.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine Asian ginseng is In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Asian ginseng is prescribed during the cold winter months and American ginseng is taken during the warm summer months.
The Chinese people believe that ginseng is a panacea for health.
Wild Simulated Ginseng Budget 10 lbs. of ginseng seeds $ 800.00 planting labor (160 hrs. @ $6.00/hr) $ 960.00 harvest labor (270 hrs. @ $6.00/hr.) $ 1,620.00 drying labor (16 hrs. @ $6.00/hr.) $ 96.00 gypsum (16 50 lb. bags @ $8.00/bag) $ 64.00 rock phosphate (16 50 lb. bags @ $8.00/bag) $ 128.00 miscellaneous tools, Clorox, heat, phone, etc. $ 100.00 Total $ 3,768.00 If a low price of $260 per pound of dried roots is used, income will be: Root Yield 50 lbs. Gross Income - $ 13,000 Net income - $ 9,232 Root Yield 75 lbs. Gross Income - $ 19,500 Net income - $ 15,732 Root Yield 100 lbs. Gross Income - $ 36,000 Net income - $ 22,232
Wild Simulated American Ginseng Andy Hankins Extension Specialist - Alternative e Agriculture Virginia State University