Cultivating your ginseng patch

After your ginseng seeds or rootlets have been planted, you can expect them to sprout and come up the following spring. If you're using the "Wild-Simulated" method, you're done until it comes time to harvest your crop a few years down the road (except for the ever-present need to protect your crop from poachers).

If you're using either the "Woods-Grown" or "Field-Grown" method however, you have some work and a bit of expense ahead of you. First of all, you'll want to periodically pull any stray weeds from around your ginseng plants to remove any and all competition they might face for nutrients.

You will also need to apply fertilizer (bone meal is best) and pesticides (consult your county extension agent for the most appropriate pesticide for your area) as recommended in the package directions.

You should also check for slugs lying on and under the layer of mulch every spring and remove any that you find. Also be sure to check for and remove any un-hatched slug eggs. Slugs are one of the most serious threats to ginseng plants, especially in the early years and in the spring when the sprouts are small and tender.