How to Cultivate Ginseng

Consider how to market your ginseng product. Before starting to grow ginseng, research how to sell your harvest. One option is to connect with a licensed local intermediary. You can visit their facility, bring your ginseng for weighing, and inquire about pricing on the spot. If the price isn’t satisfactory, you can choose another intermediary.

• You can select from a list of licensed local intermediaries. There may be a few facilities near your area where you can visit and secure the best price for your product.
• If you want to bypass intermediaries and sell or export ginseng directly, consider applying for a trading license. Regulations vary by region, so research the rules in your area. At minimum, you’ll need to fill out an application and pay a fee.
• Some people also sell ginseng on platforms like eBay. However, you’ll need an export license to do so.

Understand the wild-simulated ginseng cultivation method. This approach mimics the plant's natural environment. Ginseng grown this way takes up to 8 years to mature, and the roots are far more valuable in terms of color and shape compared to conventionally cultivated ginseng. You can experiment with slight modifications, such as using artificial shade or tilling the soil, but this essentially means growing ginseng in a forest setting, resulting in roots that look different and are less valuable.

• Conventional ginseng farming matures in 4 years but requires significant effort, carries a higher risk of disease, and costs approximately 400 – 900 million VND per hectare. Most small-scale farmers opt for the method described in this article, yielding more valuable roots at a cost of around 60 million VND plus labor. Note that these are estimated costs.

Research the suitable environment. If you want to grow ginseng using the "wild-simulated" method, you’ll need land in a natural setting. Ginseng thrives in cool, temperate climates with hardwood forests and annual rainfall of 500 – 1000 mm. These conditions are found in the Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast United States, southern Canada, and the mountainous regions of the northern U.S.

• If you’re unsure whether ginseng can grow in your area, research online or contact your local Wildlife Management Department.

Obtain all necessary permits and certifications for growing and selling ginseng. Regulations for ginseng cultivation vary by country, but you’ll need permits and certifications, especially if you’re growing ginseng for commercial purposes. Research the rules in your area and contact your local branch office, Department of Agriculture, or Department of Commerce to understand the requirements for legal cultivation. You should also secure organic certification before starting. The "wild-simulated" method mentioned here is organic.

• 19 U.S. states allow ginseng harvesting, with 18 requiring ginseng to be at least 5 years old with 3 leaves, while Illinois mandates a minimum of 10 years and 4 leaves.

Choose the right location. Ginseng grows best in shaded areas (especially on north- or east-facing slopes) within moist hardwood forests, particularly those with deep-rooted deciduous trees like yellow birch, oak, sugar maple, or beech. Mature hardwood forests with canopies blocking at least 75% of sunlight are ideal. Shrubs, brambles, and dense undergrowth can compete with and deplete nutrients from ginseng.

• The best way to identify a suitable spot is to look for wild ginseng growing there.
• Since wild ginseng is rare, you can identify suitable areas by the presence of "companion plants" like bloodroot, goldenseal, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild yam, yellow lady’s slipper, Solomon’s seal, wild ginger, or rattlesnake fern. Look up images of these plants online to see which grow in your area, or consult a local botanist.
• Additionally, be aware that ginseng poaching is a serious issue: Ensure your chosen site is hidden from residential areas and far from trails or roads.

Assess and test the soil. The soil should be rich in humus, moist, and well-draining. Avoid swampy areas and hard clay soils. Once you’ve selected a location, collect several soil samples of equal weight from around the planting area and mix them in a plastic bucket. Have the soil analyzed at a local soil laboratory or university. Your gardening toolkit should include a pH tester, but calcium and phosphorus levels are harder to measure without professional equipment. While there’s some debate about the ideal soil type, look for: a pH of 4.5 – 5.5 (acidic soil), calcium levels of 350 g per square meter, and phosphorus levels of 10 g per square meter.

• Good, moist soil won’t clump or stick to your hand when squeezed.
• Some growers prefer a neutral pH between 6 and 7. Unfortunately, there’s insufficient research to definitively determine the ideal environment for ginseng, but it generally thrives in soil with a pH of 4 – 7.

Apply fertilizer if necessary. If you find the perfect location except for the chemical composition of the soil, you can adjust the pH level or increase the phosphorus or calcium content in that area. If you aim to cultivate ginseng using a wild-simulated method rather than the conventional farm-grown approach, avoid using fertilizers, or at least apply them only to the soil surface rather than mixing them into the soil. You can raise the soil's pH by adding lime (calcium carbonate) and increase calcium levels without altering the pH by using gypsum (calcium sulfate).

• Note that ginseng can grow in areas with lower calcium and phosphorus levels, but the roots may be smaller or grow more slowly. Ensure proper spacing between plants to prevent them from competing for nutrients.
• Remember to test and adjust the soil's nutrient composition annually.

Purchase or harvest ginseng seeds. Be aware that some regions have laws prohibiting or restricting the harvesting of wild ginseng, so research the regulations in your country or area before foraging. If harvesting wild ginseng is not permitted or you cannot find the extremely rare wild seeds, buy seeds from local growers or online. "Green" seeds are cheaper than stratified seeds but require several months of preparation (discussed below).

• Soft, moldy, or discolored seeds are unsuitable for planting. You can return them to the seller.
• Place your seed order by July or August, and the seeds will arrive in early fall. Waiting until fall may leave you with the lowest-quality seeds.

Keep the seeds moist before planting. Store the stratified seeds you purchased in a plastic bag and refrigerate them. Use a spray bottle to mist the seeds once a week until planting. If the seeds dry out, they will die.

Prepare to stratify the seeds if they haven't been already. When ginseng plants produce seeds in the wild, the seeds do not germinate the following year. For germination, seeds must undergo a stratification process for one year, which removes the fleshy outer layer and prepares the seed for sprouting. Most store-bought seeds are already stratified, but if you harvest your own seeds or purchase "green" seeds, you will need to stratify them yourself. Depending on the quantity of seeds, follow one of these methods:

• For a small number of seeds, place them in a thin mesh bag and tie it securely. In the fall, bury the bag in loose, shaded soil about 10-13 cm deep. Cover with 10 cm of mulch. Mark the location carefully and keep the seeds moist but not waterlogged.
• For a large number of seeds, use a specialized container with drainage and protection from rodents. Construct a wooden box with mesh on the top and bottom, about 20-30 cm deep if layering seeds. Alternate layers of seeds with sand in the box. Bury the box 3-5 cm underground. Cover with soil and mark the location. Water if the soil becomes dry.

Plant the sprouted seeds in spring. If you have stratified the seeds, dig up the container and check if they are ready for planting. Discard any soft, moldy, or discolored seeds. If the seeds have sprouted, plant them immediately. Return the remaining seeds to the container, rebury them, mix them, and ensure the sand or soil remains moist.

Sow the seeds in autumn. Most seeds should be sown in the fall, after the leaves have fallen but before the ground freezes. Ginseng seeds thrive when planted in late autumn or early winter, ideally in moist soil, such as after rainfall.

Soak the seeds in a bleach-water solution before planting. If the seeds have not sprouted, soak them in a mixture of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water for 10 minutes to kill harmful fungal spores. Discard any seeds that float, as they are hollow and dead. Rinse the remaining seeds in clean water and take them to the planting area.

• You can also treat the seeds with fungicide, but ensure it is safe for ginseng seeds.

Remove weeds and ferns from the area. While you don’t need to clear all vegetation from the ginseng planting site, low-growing shrubs can compete with ginseng. Ferns often release chemicals that can harm nearby plants, so remove them or avoid planting ginseng near them.

Plant a large quantity of seeds quickly by broadcasting them. If you want ginseng to grow in the most natural conditions possible, or if you have a large number of seeds, simply scatter them across the planting area. Clear fallen leaves from the ground first, then spread approximately 65–120 seeds per square meter.

Plant seeds in smaller quantities with more care. Most wild-simulated ginseng planting methods require minimal preparation and only standard gardening tools. Start by raking away the leaf layer to expose the soil surface. Use a hoe to create rows along the slope, not downhill. Plant ginseng as follows:

• Space seeds 15–23 cm apart for large-scale plantings of ginseng aged 7 years or older. This is typical for wild-simulated ginseng, as wider spacing reduces the risk of disease spread.
• Plant seeds closer together, about 3 cm apart, if you have many seeds and want an earlier harvest. This method is more common in conventional ginseng farming, as densely planted ginseng requires careful management to control diseases and pests. It is not recommended for first-time growers.

Cover the planting area with leaves or mulch. Replace the leaf layer you raked away earlier. This layer helps retain soil moisture, which is essential for ginseng. Apply 3–5 cm of mulch, but no thicker, as ginseng sprouts cannot penetrate dense mulch. Use a thicker layer of up to 10 cm if you live in an area with cold winters and frequent frost, but reduce the thickness in spring.

• Avoid using pure oak leaves as mulch. They are too large and rigid, making it difficult for ginseng sprouts to emerge. Shred oak leaves if you accidentally purchase them as mulch.

Mark the planting site discreetly or use a GPS device. You won’t need to visit the site often, and the forest landscape can change significantly over the 7+ years it takes for ginseng to mature. Ensure you can locate the site later. The best method is to use a GPS device to record the exact coordinates. This avoids leaving any visible signs that might attract poachers. If you must mark the site, ensure your markers are inconspicuous.

Maintain secrecy and protect the cultivation area. Due to the high value of wild ginseng, there are often poachers in the growing area. While fences may not deter those who already know about the ginseng, they can prevent outsiders from discovering the site. Using animals like cows, dogs, or other aggressive creatures as guards can be effective, as long as you keep livestock away from the ginseng plot.

Thin out densely grown ginseng plants annually. Overcrowded ginseng plants are prone to disease and nutrient competition. After the first growing season, relocate or replant the ginseng to maintain about 65 plants per square meter. Repeat this process in the second year, reducing the density to 11–22 plants per square meter.

• Alternatively, you can plant ginseng in a different area each fall to ensure a continuous harvest. Many growers use this method to harvest mature ginseng annually after the initial batch reaches maturity.

Conduct thorough research before using fertilizers or pesticides. A key advantage of wild-simulated ginseng cultivation is the reduced risk of pests and diseases due to the wide spacing between plants. While some plants or berries may be eaten, the valuable roots remain largely unaffected, and the risk of disease spread is minimal. If issues arise, consult your local wildlife or environmental department for guidance on fertilizing ginseng.

• Note that using pesticides may result in losing organic certification or damaging your reputation as a wild-simulated ginseng seller.

Wait for the plants to mature. It takes 7–10 years for ginseng to develop large, valuable roots, provided the growing conditions are ideal and luck is on your side. Regularly check that the soil remains moist and is covered with a thin layer of leaf litter.

• If grown at high density, you can harvest after 4 years or when the roots begin to shrink. However, these roots will not be as valuable.

The plant does not grow year-round. The above-ground stem dies back in the fall and regrows in the spring. Each year, the stem grows larger, and during this time, the underground root also continues to expand.

Harvest red berries after the third year. Once the plants mature, they produce clusters of red berries containing seeds. Collect the berries in the fall if you intend to harvest seeds for planting or selling. Remember, these seeds require stratification as mentioned in the 'seed preparation' step.

Harvest mature plants anytime after the seventh year. Depending on the maturity timeline, you may want to harvest ginseng as early as possible, typically around 7 years for high-quality roots. If there's no rush, leaving the plants for a few more years allows further growth. If harvesting sooner, check local regulations regarding early ginseng harvesting.

Dig carefully to avoid damaging the roots. Use a fork or narrow shovel to dig around the plant, maintaining a distance of about 15 cm from the stem. If the plant is near immature ones, use a smaller tool like a flathead screwdriver (20–25 cm long) and proceed cautiously. If there's any risk of harming nearby immature roots, delay harvesting until they mature.

• Note: Ginseng roots grow at a 45º angle to the soil, not straight down, and often branch out. Dig carefully to avoid breaking the roots.

Wash and dry the ginseng roots. Soak the roots in cool water to remove soil, then place them on a wooden tray and rinse gently under a sink or hose. Avoid letting the roots touch each other and dry them on a wooden rack in a well-ventilated room at 21–32 ºC. Maintain humidity between 35% and 45% to prevent overly rapid drying, which can reduce value. Turn the roots daily. When the roots snap easily, they are dry, but test sparingly.

• Avoid scrubbing or washing too vigorously—some medicinal compounds are concentrated in the root hairs, and damaging them reduces the root's value.
• Small roots dry in 2–3 days, while larger, older roots may take up to six weeks.
• Direct sunlight can dry roots too quickly, but if mold or discoloration appears, expose them to sunlight for a few hours to kill pathogens.