Ginseng Forum
Ginseng => Wild Ginseng => : RN73 August 29, 2014, 10:54:16 PM
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I have couple questions and would appreciate any info that can be given!! First...on our private property, if we see a young plant and just want to keep poachers from digging them up, does it hurt the root to just snap the stem off? Second question...if the berries haven't turned red yet, can you still squeeze and replant them? Again, thanks for any input!!
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Hi RN73,
Welcome to the forum.
Generally, after the middle of July, if the tops are lost on seedlings they already have next year's bud and will be fine. The same goes with older plants. They will likely be ok even if the tops don't make it until July (deer, turkey, disease, etc).
So yes, I would recommend you do just that. I have done it to my wild sim plantings for several years now.
Most of the time if I'm not collecting seed I just push the whole berry into the ground. However, I am not certain about your question on this one. I have heard some folks talking about leaving the seed on the tops and sticking the tops in the ground and the berries ripening after the root is harvested. If you were to remove the stem with the seeds, it would of course be the same thing. I think I would suggest you plant the ripe berries and move the stem with the green seed attached to a different location and stick them into the ground in hopes the berried still attached will continue to ripen.
Be careful of your state's laws, however. Some states consider taking the tops to be 'harvesting' by technical definition and you might be in trouble if caught. However, most states also have an easement of sorts for property owners on their land.