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Post by Alan on Oct 25, 2007 15:09:27 GMT -5
Kim was sweet enough to buy me a book that I have been wanting for a long time, it's called Ginseng Dreams and it is available through the university press of Kentucky, I can't think of the authors name at the moment but a google search should reveal it pretty easily. I am currently about 1/3'd the way through the book and I am very impressed with the information provided inside the book, exspecially the information presented regarding the history of Ginseng, it's discovery in America as well as the east and also the history of exportation.
When I am finished with the book I will do a review here, but one thing that I can say is that if you are interested in the slightest way in the folklore, history, and or cultivation of Ginseng then you should definetly check this book out.
-Alan
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Post by johno on Oct 25, 2007 15:11:07 GMT -5
Does ginseng grow in cedar glades?
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Post by Alan on Oct 25, 2007 16:05:15 GMT -5
Johno,
not so well, it doesn't like the PH of cedar stands, now having said that I have found a plant here and there underneath certain evergreens, but it definetly does not prefer cedar stands at all.
If you have a good nort facing wall of your house or you want to put up a shade structure you could grow some plants just for looks and fun though.
-Alan
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Post by johno on Oct 25, 2007 16:44:42 GMT -5
I do have a long north wall. I have been thinking about buidling some kind of raised beds back there, or maybe growing mushrooms on logs or something... Sounds like that would be a good place?
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Post by Alan on Oct 25, 2007 23:08:37 GMT -5
That would be a great place, just make sure and get some good humous material from a decidious area (trying to avoid black walnuts and their leaves) and use that as your soil for the ginseng and make sure you keep it moist but very well drained and you should be fine. I can tell you that Ginseng is a beautiful plant to grow just for an ornamental, I admire it as much for it's beauty as I do it's price and increadible medicinal value. I also love the way goldenseal looks as well.
-Alan
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Post by johno on Oct 26, 2007 10:00:00 GMT -5
I assume it's kind of like growing carrots in that the fewer obstructions in the soil (rocks), the better for root formation?
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Post by Alan on Oct 26, 2007 10:06:45 GMT -5
If you are not growing it for a cash crop and just want a big long root then yes, however if you want to grow a cash crop the more obstructions and more forked and malformed the root is the higher the price. This is why I love growoing Ginseng, it is such a contradiction of everything I do.....
I throw out seeds and leave them untended...
no fertilizer or sprays
forget I planted it for at least five years
and I get a premium price the more messed up my crop looks! (to an extent)
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Post by johno on Oct 26, 2007 10:30:21 GMT -5
So there's no need to sift the soil...
The topsoil here isn't very deep, but it's decent quality. It's mostly mixed deciduous forest with some stands of cedar where nothing else grows (shelf rock...)
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Post by Alan on Oct 26, 2007 22:39:29 GMT -5
You've definetly got to have good deciduous humous to even try to grow Ginseng, but that is easy enough to find! I've never tryed growing it as an ornamental but both you and Karen are in the process of convincing me, I have also not totally rulled out the idea next year of building a shade structure specifically for the purpose of providing it to the public as an ornamental and for also producing stratified seed for sale, I will keep everyone updated.
Alans checklist of things to do in the next 3 years:
Raise cricketts
2 new greenhouses/cold frames 20x48 or larger
raise mushrooms
raise chickens
start an orchard/other permaculture system
ginseng shade house!
and on and on and on......
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Post by johno on Nov 17, 2007 1:48:48 GMT -5
Do you have any ginseng seeds?
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Post by Alan on Nov 17, 2007 9:11:10 GMT -5
No, unfortunately Johno I have already planted all of my Ginseng for the year, if your just looking for small amounts there are a couple of seed companies that sell seed like Johnnies I believe does, fairly decent price for no more seed than what there is.
-Alan
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Post by plantsnobin on Nov 23, 2007 18:10:02 GMT -5
Hey Alan, I haven't had any luck with the
Asian gensing, I believe it is correctly Panax ginseng instead of Panax panax. I found reference to many types, Asian, Himalayan, etc. But, I haven't found a source for plants or seeds yet. I did just order the dwarf ginseng, Panax trifolius, from Gardens North. She is a great source of unusual seeds, located in Canada. She told me this spring that she may not be able to ship to the US before long, so I keep ordering as long as I can. Our government is trying to stop seeds from just about anywhere. Geniuses don't seem to realize that North America is North America. Anyway, it will be quite a while before I have any plants, but I will share a couple with you when [if] I have success. Karen
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Post by plantsnobin on Dec 11, 2007 10:34:48 GMT -5
Alan, I have found a source now for the Siberian ginseng. Richters has three ginsengs listed. A bit pricy, but I haven't been able to locate it anywhere else, and Gene Bush didn't know of any source either. Richters doesn't really have a good reputation on Gardenwatchdog, and I don't remember ever ordering from them myself, so I can't help there. Karen
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Post by Alan on Dec 11, 2007 16:49:25 GMT -5
The only problem with siberian Ginseng is that it is not a true Ginseng. However the dwarf ginseng is and can actually fetch a pretty high price with buyers who know what they are looking at and how to properly market it.
I might have been able to track down a few seeds of Asian Ginseng (Panax Panax as opposed to Panax quinquefolius which is American Ginseng). There really isn't any money in Asian Ginseng in america mostly due to the fact that it negates the whole Yin/Yang belief of the Chineese, I would just like to grow it out of curiosity.
Anyhow, if I get my hands on a couple hundred Panax Panax seeds I'll send some your way so you can grow some too.
-Alan
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Post by plantsnobin on Dec 17, 2007 11:40:31 GMT -5
Alan, I rec'd my order from Gardens North, so I have the Panax trifolius planted and stratifying. I think the packet was only about 20 seeds, but when they germinate you can have some. I am not interested in selling ginseng as such, but they do make a nice ornamental. I have seen a plant in someone's garden that is so big, you don't even recognize it as ginseng when all you have seen are plants in the woods. I know the size of the top doesn't mean the root is huge, but it would be interesting to see those roots. Karen
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