[MPWG] MPWG Digest, Vol 31, Issue 6

[Michael Schenk]

List,

I'd like to thank everyone who has responded to my question with information about ginseng under pine.  I'm planning a future planting area, and the comments were very helpful.

A forester offered me loblolly seedlings, and before accepting them, I wanted to get more information.  Loblolly is a fast-growing, lowland, coastal plain type pine, but it seems to do OK in the bottom lands.  I think i'll go with tulip poplar for that location for the fast-growing aspect, and add some white pine (native) and hemlock (native) in a hopeful attempt to mislead future poachers.

Gratefully,

Mike




One comment, usually loblolly pine and American ginseng don't share the same ecoregions
or other soil/climate requirements. One would therefore never observe ginseng in
the wild under a loblolly. Here in WNC I've seen it at the dripline of hemlocks 
and somtimes around white pine,,, but once again loblolly does not grow here, at
least not naturally or particularly well for that matter.

Robin

-----Original Message-----
>From: Bob Beyfuss <rlb14 at cornell.edu>
>Sent: Mar 3, 2006 11:14 AM
>To: Michael Schenk <schenkmj at earthlink.net>, MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org


>Subject: Re: [MPWG] Ginseng and loblolly
>
>I have found wild ginseng under white pine, red pine and hemlock. I have 
>seen it grown reasonably well under red pine. This past fall I planted one 
>half acre of ginseng in a red pine plantation. I would suggest a soil test 
>first to ascertain soil calcium levels of at least 1,500 pounds per acre. 
>If pH is higher than 6.0 that is pretty much a given. If soil calcium is 
>less than 500 pounds per acre I would not even try it. If 500 to 1,500 
>pounds per acre I would supplement (top dress or pre plant incorporate) 
>with 50 pounds of gypsum per 1,000 square feet of bed and plan to apply it 
>annually.
>Bob Beyfuss
>
>At 10:25 AM 3/3/2006, Michael Schenk wrote:
>>List,
>>
>>Has anyone had experience with growing ginseng under pine?  I've read that
>>it will grow under white pine, and I'm wondering if it will grow under 
>>loblolly.
>>
>>Best regards,
>>Mike