Cultivation of Ginseng
Forest Cultivation of ginseng. Credits: Eric Burkhart
Wild-simulated ginseng presents the best opportunity to successfully cultivate and market ginseng for profit.
Ginseng has fairly stringent environmental requirements. It requires at least 70 percent shade. The soil must have enough base nutrients (15-20 percent base saturation) to meet its needs, but not so much that the soil pH exceeds 6 (liming is out of the question unless pH is too low). The soil must be moist, but well-drained. To achieve this, the organic matter content has to be pretty high. Heavy clays and very sandy soils are poor for ginseng. Ginseng does not compete will with other plants, so vegetation control is necessary.
Ginseng grows best in small patches, not rows or giant beds. So plantings should be dispersed throughout your woodlot.
