american ginseng plant

[dogbane26]

I planted the pre-stratified seeds fall of 08 and here is what a first year plant looks like.  

It is more important to know what a first year plant looks like for identification so you dont weed your ginseng plants  themselves out of your planting site.  

2nd , 3rd year and so on are quite easy to distinguish from other plants.  

Notice the holes in the leaves.  I don't use any pesticides.  These are wild simulated plants.  

The only thing I did was plant the seed at the right depth and time of year.  

I never water them.  I will weed occasionally and that is it.

[laughingwillow]

Cool.

There used to be a wild ginseng patch near Granite Falls, MN where we used to fish every summer.

lw

[dogbane26]

Granite falls seems a little too far west to find wild ginseng but i could be wrong.

Are you sure it wasnt planted by someone?  

It seems like western Minnesota is mostly prairie biome and and doesn't get as much precipitation as the southeastern corner near wisconsin by the twin cities which used to all be hardwood forest.  

Im not sure if ginseng would grow well in granite falls  because it requires a natural hardwood forest and the hardwood forest soil to grow well.  

It isnt just a shade loving plant but it likes places where leaves fall each year and build up rich humus in the soil.  

 Im not sure but humus might help the plants like with disease resistance?   I know certain beneficial fungi found in hardwood forests ive heard contain giberrelins which even help germinate dormant seeds.    

Im thinking the best places to find wild ginseng are on either eastern or northern facing slopes possibly near the St croix river on either the Minnesota or Wisconsin side.  

They wont grow in the flood plains near the river because they dont like to sit in water.  

The soil has to be well drained for ginseng.

Im guessing they could be found on sloped forested areas near the river since it is probably cool and shaded which is ideal for ginseng.  

Minnesota is like the part of the country where the east meets the west.    

Once you get into western Minnesota you start to see plants that tolerate low precipitation , alkaline soils and some  of these plants include yuccas, and prickly pear cacti.    

Into south dakota you might even start to see giant sagebrush plants.

[laughingwillow]

Well, I'm pretty sure you are wrong. The patch in question was wild and growing near the MN river. However, even if someone planted the patch 50 years ago, it thrived on its own with no human intervention.

lw

[dogbane26]

It is possible im just saying some ginseng isnt always naturally wild in the area where it is found growing.      That can be said about alot of plants.

I mean that also applies to non natives.  Aloe vera grows in Phoenix, Arizona and does fine even if someone doesnt water it.   It is well adapted but that doesnt mean it would be found there unless someone planted it.  

Without humans i doubt it is going to find itself in Arizona with the geographical barriers you have like the ocean.  I mean to get to Arizona from Africa?  

The stuff i planted was planted by me.... but if someone else moves into the house and on the land maybe they will think it is wild.  

It is pretty much wild and ginseng probably used to grow in the same area before white settlers moved here and changed the land and etc.

Dont get me wrong i like what used to exist here.  

I wish it was still like that but it isn't.   I like what is left of the native ecology.  
 
Talking about ecology I think it can apply to humans too.  

Humans like white americans outcompeted the indians that used to live here.

People will talk about purple loosestrife, buckthorn, kudzu..etc

but the white man i would say is a weed also.

They got rid of most of the native americans.

[QIESTQ]

Ginseng crops are sold to herbal markets for 3-4 hundred dollars per pound.

[hedgenursery]

I have grown a ginseng plant in my conservatory from a 3 inch plant in a ceramic pot to a 6 foot bush. Is it possible to place it outside in a planter and is it hardy enough to survive a Scottish winter?

[hotelquito1]

 Im not sure but humus might help the plants like with disease resistance?   I know certain beneficial fungi found in hardwood forests ive heard contain giberrelins which even help germinate dormant seeds.