Should I replant or dry?

[hobo6228]

I have several roots which are older and I would like to replant them but from what I have read online I am thinking they are too old and do not have enough "hair roots" for this.  Any advice is appreciated because I am completely new to ginseng this year.  I am planting seeds, 1 year old roots and the roots in the below pictures if they will grow back.

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y476/Bryan_Call/Mobile%20Uploads/CAM00104_zpsnbmskcyy.jpg

These are the ones I believe I will replant unless told otherwise.

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y476/Bryan_Call/Mobile%20Uploads/CAM00105_zpsqfos7hkb.jpg

Also, if anyone can tell by these pictures, I know the woods around my house aren't the best probably but it has a few characteristics which make me think it might be ok.  First, there is plenty of leaf mulch.  The soil is awesome, in my opinion, because the top 2-3 inches is completely a very soft, fine, dark brown humus layer.  Underneath that is a very small 1/2-1 inch layer of very fine (much finer than sand) gray soil and under that is typical dark brown/black soil.  My research suggest that the humus layer and the gray soil could be calcium rich but I havent had it tested.  One issue is the area is mostly flattish.  I live in the foothills of NC, about 1-1.5 hours from the Appalachians but only 20 minutes from the Blue Ridge.  Hopefully some of this info can help and wasn't completely useless.  Here is a couple pics of the woods from a week ago.

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y476/Bryan_Call/Mobile%20Uploads/CAM00097_zpssav0ydef.jpg
http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y476/Bryan_Call/Mobile%20Uploads/CAM00096_zpsmyuubx5s.jpg
http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y476/Bryan_Call/Mobile%20Uploads/CAM00100_zpsaicqueyb.jpg

There are just as many coniferous trees as there are your more ideal hardwoods.  There are some hills, just not in the pictures, and around 3 small streams (inches deep and a few feet wide).  A few areas have this great soil and others have hard, red dirt with leaf litter and basically no soft humus. 

Thanks for anyone with advice. 

[Brad]

The first picture looks like nice roots to start a bed with for the most part.  The two about 4 oclock look like they might be dried up more than I'd like to see and I can't see a bud on them.  The rest should be fine.

The second picture of fresh roots all look fine.  Just be sure to keep them in the humus layer and lay them out so the roots never curl back upward.  Plant them a few inches deep and give them plenty of leaf mulch.

The first pic of the woods looks fine to me.  However, the others seem to have more pines than hardwoods.  I'd avoid the pines if you can, and definitely avoid red clay soils.

[hobo6228]

What exactly is it about pines that is bad?  Just curious.  Also, is there certain elevations that ginseng does that best at?  I have other places I could plant but they aren't close to home were I could check on them regularly and since this is so new to me and I'm already hooked, I really would like to have them close to watch them.  One more question and I'll hopefully be finished.  I have no idea exactly how much nutrients is in the soil and from my research I have found ginseng needs calcium rich soil to really do good and have a better chance of not getting any diseases but is too much calcium going to kill them?  I have been putting gypsum down at planting sites but, even though its probably unlikely since I havent found any ginseng growing there, what if there is already enough calcium in the soil?  Would it kill my roots before they have a chance to grow next spring?

[Brad]

Pines tend to produce 'red root".  I think it is from the sap on the ground..but I'm not sure.  Red root is not at all desirable through.

In my area it is relatively flat, so I really am not familiar with the elevation aspect.  I'm sure, however, there is a zone where ginseng would do best on the side of a big hill or mountain.

I've had negative results with calcium in the past.  One thing to consider, which Beyfuss mentioned in one of his presentations, is that in healthy populations of wild ginseng they most often found the calcium to magnesium ratios were 10:1.  Also, he cautioned about adding too much calcium because when this gets out of whack in relation to other soil chemicals/elements, the chemical composition begins to change and for instance nitrogen can be released which might encourage some diseases.