Ginseng seeds need proper id

[Crazycoocoo123]

These seeds were bought from a online vendor and they look a little small and different to be ginseng so I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they are or not. Thanks

[Brad]

I don't know what those are, but they are certainly not the seeds of American ginseng. 

...I'd really like to know where you got those

[Crazycoocoo123]

I am new to this forum. Am I able to post vendor information? If not I'll message u. I contacted the seller and they requested pictures from me so now I am waiting on a reply back. They did not come labeled or anything.

[Brad]

Its my forum....if there is a problem I'll edit it out 

[Brad]

...and welcome!

[Brad]

You know what...I just blew that picture up.  That looks like bits of small gravel.  Try to cut one in half and see what you find.  ...in any event I think it is a fraud.

[Crazycoocoo123]

The first thing I did was try to cut into one and they did cut in half. I bought them off of Amazon. seller is andradite.  I haven't had a problem with seeds from Amazon sellers before. The seller emailed me back after I told them
I was having the seeds checked. Here is what they said "
Hello
Thank you for your pictures. I also searched on the web for some hours and contact the planters. In fact, there are so many shapes. Big or small and different color, white, brown, black even red. I'm also waiting for the planters' answer.
Have a good day!"

I'm not a expert on any plants but im lost for words now lol

[Brad]

Dispute the transaction.  You can tell Amazon to come talk to me.  I am a "planter" and a dealer with enough experience to know what I'm selling.  Hell, I just looked at one amazon posting and they are selling purported ginseng seed for over $1700 a pound.  I sold for $170 a pound this year.  Further, just the first few reviews blow that seller up.  One says the seed was half sprouted and dead -which is what you get when you don't buy seed from a reputable dealer IN THE FALL.  The second said they sprouted and were growing just fine...but had red and yellow flowers...definitely not ginseng.

I guess I"ll go back to ebay and amazon this year.  As far as I can tell, I was the first to start offering seedlings on ebay.  But they started nickel and diming so much it wasn't worth the hassle.

[Crazycoocoo123]

Yea Ima give them a call today after work because I assured he seller they were not becauseAmerican ginseng because I had them checked by a dealer/ planted. Then I got emailed back saying they are American ginsing but they will show the pics to their planters and if they are not they will give me a refund. Which they cannot refund the time I spent screwing around with this.

Thanks for the help. I know where to turn for help now and where to buy seeds

[Crazycoocoo123]

Now I'm more confused. I was only aware of the stratification of ginsing seeds to get them to sprout like many other seeds. I know with citrus trees they have a hard outer shell when removed sprouts more quick. I believe they are saying they took the outer layer off the ginseng seed

another email here it is:

"I have some pictures. In the picture fresh fruit of American ginseng, we can see the original shape of fresh fruit of American ginseng. But it can't be plant because embryo is not ripe. Only through the fruit ripening, it can be plant. To keep for longer time, the planters air drying and decorticate the seeds. And the shape become white and big in the picture "American ginseng". Then, in the "pure seed", you can see the seeds you received. They are the pure seed. The planters decorticate the white shell. So there is really no mistake now."

And pics they sent.

[Brad]

I"m sorry...but this guy is clearly full of sh.....well...full of it.  He has NO idea what he is talking about.  If you want to read more, see my article on delayed germination here on the site.

The short version is that you can certainly plant ginseng right off the plant.  However, the embryo is not fully developed and must undergo a series of climate changes to break the dormancy (explained more in the article).  So, when you see people on amazon selling "pre-stratified" seed, that can only mean seed that has not been stratified -green seed.  Maybe it is viable or maybe it isn't. 

The process is to take the ripe berries from the plants, depulp them, and mix them with sand.  They can also be treated for disease before putting them into stratification.  The seed and sand are then stratified in one of two methods 1) by burying them where they will stay moist and experience the climate changes necessary, or 2)  put them into plastic totes and store them in a freezer to maintain constant temperature and moisture and then in the spring move them to a shaded open area until fall.  In either case, they will be float tested when they come out of the stratification.  Seed stratified above ground will be drier coming out of the box and may have to be re hydrated over night to get a good float test.  However, NEVER is ginseng seed allowed to completely dry out of as that idiot said...air dry. 

No one decorates the seed.

There is no such term in the industry of 'pure seed.'

The pictures they sent were of 1) a ginseng plant with some berries  2) VERY dry ginseng seeds (no way to tell if they are stratified or not)  and 3) I have no clue what that is.    If it is a ginseng seed, it will never grow, however.

[Crazycoocoo123]

i read everything you said on various sites including yours and nothing about taking the shell of the seeds off was mentioned in anything. My time spent on this p***es me off more then the money but I can thank the crook for learning a little more about ginseng. I don't understand why they would take the time to take the shells off of the seeds if that is really what happened and what they sent me. I called Amazon today and they opened a case and within 7 days I'll get a refund which is more time I just waste on this worthless human. They said they would investigate and shut him down if anything like this turns up again.