[MPWG] Ginseng production in containers?

[MoonBranch Botanicals]

Hi Steve,
In my experience container production of ginseng is easily accomplished if you can meet all of the following criteria:

-appropriate shade as is required in general production
-use of a sharply drained media (substrate) high in organic matter
-root area (containers) must be kept cool and moist, but not wet
-an organic fertilizer (i.e. soybean meal or fertrell) and trace elements can be beneficial

With that stated, keep in mind about what others have added regarding acheiving a wild looking root after plants are located to their final location. This generally means very limited fertility levels during growing period. However, any serious soil nutritional deficiencies as indicated by a soil test should be corrected prior to planting.

Long term container production should only be used to produce "nursery" or planting stock, or for seed production as the roots will definately exhibit cutivated traits. Also, extra care must be given with regards to using a media that is slow to decay. I would avoid peat based medias as they quickly break down, becoming slimy and will eventually cause the roots to rot.

Hope this helps!
Robin

-----Original Message-----
>From: Steve Diver <steved at ncat.org>
>Sent: Feb 10, 2006 12:03 PM
>To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>Subject: [MPWG] Ginseng production in containers?
>
>Geetings MPWG -
>
>I'm familiar with ginseng cultivation via wild simulated in
>forests and bed production in a shade house.
>
>A start-up farmer that I'm working with has a nice forest
>location to try the wild simulated method.   Do you think
>that rock phosphate and compost or humates are an
>essential soil amendment, or just plant into native soils? 
>
>But the real question relates to container production of
>ginseng, for eventual transplanting into beds or forest,
>or perhaps from seed-to-havest in three to five years down
>the road.  The farmer has too many stratified seeds and
>too little time to forest plant the whole "pound" of seeds by
>end of February to mid-March.
>
>Is there any experience raising quality medicinal ginseng
>in containers and pots.... any size and shape, or troughs.  
>
>Knowledge of compost-based potting mixes and organic
>fertility is readily available.
>
>Just need to know if ginseng can be successfully
>raised in pots and obtain medicinal quality for sale into the
>trade, and if there is any technical literature on container
>production.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Steve Diver
>Fayetteville, Arkansas
>
>
>
>
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Robin Suggs
MoonBranch Botanicals
5294 Yellow Creek Road
Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771 
USA

Telephone: 828.479.2788
moonbranch at earthlink.net
www.moonbranch.com

Member:
American Herbalist Guild, Green Products Alliance, 
North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicines, 
North Carolina Goodness Grows/NCDA&CS, 
North Carolina Natural Products Association, 
Southwestern North Carolina RC&D Council 

It is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally 
in order to keep them clean.
For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their 
prejudices once in a while.
-Luther Burbank (1849-1926) born on Mar 7