Site Selection?

[timbo]

I was cruising my friends woods the other day and noticed the where companion plants were growing vegetation was reasonably thick and places with great shade were barren. I mean no plants or under story trees at all. Would these spots be a good place to plant or should I just sow the more fertile looking spots? They are well drained but not much mulch build-up. Blown off apparently . they reminded me of spots in my wood lot where i wanted to plant.

[Brad]

As a general rule, mid summer is a good time to decide where you are going to plant.  This year is somewhat exceptional because of all the rain we've had.  Typically, those barren spots will not be good for ginseng.  It might well grow there, but slowly if at all.  I would look for a happy medium between the really thick spots and the open ones.  Sometimes, the best course of action is to go in with a mower and some glyphosate (Roundup is the most expensive and most recognized) to kill off what is left after mowing.  I normally go through and remove any valuable or companion type plants before going to this extreme. 

This is why I recommend smaller test plots.  Do a small 200-500 seed experiment in both areas and see what works for you.  You might find as I suspect, ginseng will grow in both extremes, but each will have their own issues.

[timbo]

I don't know if I would plant there at all. She'd be agreeable I'm sure. But they are getting into sugaring with another guy , who seems all right but I don't like to have to have a committee meeting for every decision. She has a very nice wood lot though and I may pop in a few seeds this fall while hunting there.

[Brad]

Well, your activities will not affect the sugar production at all.  I have in the past drawn up a lease that granted me the right to plant and harvest, clear brush and small trees up to say 2" diameter, and deadwood. I further stipulated that we both would restrict access to the property. 

Of course, there were other stipulations, but that gives you the basic idea

[timbo]

Yeah that would be the way to do it. The situation is a little more "complicated". For instance: She heard black walnut makes excellent sugar , and it does. She asked about walnut seedlings and I said I had plenty she could have. Next thing this guy has planted some 3-4 hundred for her.(at her expense I imagine) .I have several on going projects for her ,contracting and the budget seems a little tight this year. I think this guys in love with her forest and if I bring up the ginseng idea....... he'll be plantain ginseng for her. I think I'll just start some at home and learn the ropes and wait see what happens over there.
Hey Brad or anyone else, I have about 800 square feet under way and here is my plan. I am thinking of starting with 25 2 year-old rootlets , 100 1 year-old and seed. I thought I'd divide up the roots roughly evenly in the 4 patches and then seed it fairly sparsely this year. I will re-seed in between over the next several years as i expand my operation. I am prepping the beds now with some gypsum and rock phosphate and tilling. I would like to start some companion plants too. I am not doing a soil test but am pretty sure calciums low. I think ph is good , maples grow great there. I am not using any fertilizer as suggested just the wood mulch i mentioned in a previous post. I going for wild sim'woods-grown if anyone asks. and don't plan on digging any for 10 -12 years. I can't wait to have some for my own use. I started on Korean tabs about a month ago and now I'm a believer. I think the tea from fresh root would make a fine tonic. If you have any suggestion on my plan please advise Obiwan

[Brad]

No, sounds fine.  The only thing is that technically speaking, if you are tilling, it is no longer wild simulated.  However, I know that even my tilled and raked up beds cannot be distinguished in about three years, and at five and six years old, I'll defy anyone to differentiate them from truly wild root.

[timbo]

Did i say tilling? I keep forgetting terminology can get you in trouble when dealing with government agencies. That being the most important part of the learning curve. We will DEFINENTLY NOT BE ROTOTILLING OR AMMENDING THE SOIL. tHANKS FOR THE REMINDER. 

[Foxy]

How much is wild ginseng in Ohio bring?

[Brad]

Its a little early yet to say.  I've been paying $150-170 for green thus far.