How to Plant American Ginseng
American ginseng is a native plant found in the cool mountains of the southern United States, east of the Mississippi River. A tender perennial, it regrows from its root the following spring. If you're planning to grow American ginseng for harvest, be prepared to wait: it can take eight years for the plant to reach maturity in a natural setting. Ginseng grows more quickly in a cultivated setting, but the cost of shading and protecting the plants is high. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Choose your location. Ginseng needs the cool, shady location that's typical of a north-facing woodland slope. Eighty-percent shade is ideal.
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Purchase stratified ginseng seeds. Stratified seeds have been properly stored for two years, ensuring that they will sprout. Plant ginseng seeds in the fall, after the leaves have fallen.
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Alternatively, buy ginseng rootlets. Plant rootlets immediately upon receipt, either in the spring or fall.
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Add organic material to your soil. Ginseng likes a moist, well-drained, loamy soil with a pH of approximately 6.0.
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Create shallow furrows 18 inches apart. Spread the seed by hand every 3 inches and cover with 1/2 inch of soil. If planting rootlets, dig the furrows deep enough for the rootlets to be covered with 1 inch of soil.
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Carefully tamp down the soil around your seed or rootlets. Water and wait. In the wild-cultivated method, plants are left to prosper or fail on their own, but you may choose to water, weed and mulch to encourage faster and more reliable growth.
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Tips & Warnings
A half-acre of ginseng plants can yield up to 200 lb. of dried root after six to ten years.
Ginseng is a valuable crop and may be subject to poaching.
