Ginseng Forum
Ginseng => General Ginseng Discussion => : tlangs31 May 04, 2014, 02:40:09 PM
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Im am new to ginseng only being 20 years old i had the chance for my grandpa to take me out and show me some of his wild ginseng patches. Not very people my age even no what ginseng is. Being the outdoors kind of guy i am i have took an interest in ginseng and have a question i have a few good NE facing hills that i would like to check for ginseng but i would like to no the stratified seeds you can buy on this website are they wild ginseng seeds and will they bring the price that wild ginseng plants do. thanks for your help
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Hi tlangs31,
Welcome to the forum.
A couple things.
First, don't look ONLY for northeast exposures. I've likely found more ginseng on southwestern slopes as any of the others. Of course, the northeast hillsides are generally ideal, but don't pass up other areas where the conditions are right for ginseng. Look more for companion plants than exposures.
Secondly, you cannot harvest or sell wild seed legally. Some guys who want to replant the same genetic strain, will hunt wild and move them into beds where they are arguably henceforth cultivated (depending on state laws) and seed can then be collected.
Next, although some folks (and respected experts) disagree, there is no difference in appearance in wild and cultivated seed which is planted and allowed to grow in the same conditions. The seed I plant and sell is from a farm in Ontario. However, as long as no fertilizers or any kind of growth enhancers are applied, the roots look completely wild. A couple years ago I dug some 8 year old wild simulated and some 7 year old woodsgrown. The woodsgrown had been planted in tilled beds and sprayed for the first several years. The woodsgrown actually looked better and had more wild character than did the wild simulated roots (which looked awesome as well).
Finally, I would be very cautious of anyone selling seed commercially that they say is woodsgrown. Unless you are farming ginseng under trees instead of shade cloth, it is nearly impossible to collect seed productively from plants in the woods. Everything eats them.
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So would it be a good idea to buy seed from wildgrown.com or emerald castle farms?
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Well of course, I would rather you buy seed from me rather than Mike Lee ;D