At about $150 per pound for cultivated roots, American Ginseng could be a big money producer for homesteaders and small farmers. The average 3-year-old plant will produce 1 oz of roots per plant and require about 16 plants per pound. Under the right conditions you could grow several pounds of American Ginseng in your back yard.
There is a lot of conflicting information about when and where to harvest.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service publishes a PDF of the states where it is legal to export [Ginseng and several harvested animals to other countries.] (https://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/table-list-of-states-and-tribes-with-approved-export-programs-for-furbearers-alligators-and-ginseng.pdf) Both can be used for domestic use anywhere in the USA.
Of the 19 states where it is legal to export wild ginseng to other countries, 18 require the plant have 3 leaves, each of which will have 3 to 5 leaflets and be at least 5 years old. Illinois requires the plant to be 10 years old and have at least 4 leaves, each with 3 to 5 leaflets. Cultivated plants can be harvested at any age.
One drawback to growing
The biggest drawback to growing any type of Ginseng is the fact it must be grown in shade. It cannot handle direct sunlight. Therefore, wild American Ginseng was mainly found deep in back woods area where few people traveled. These days, it has become extremely hard to find in the wild due to over harvesting.
About 10% of the worlds supply of Ginseng comes from American Ginseng. That number is growing as more farmers work to increase their percentage of land used in growing it. American Ginseng is generally accepted by herbalist as being similar enough to Chinese and Korean Ginseng as to be interchangeable.
Growing Requirements
1 --The older a plant is, the stronger the Ginsenosides and Gintonins (the active ingredients). Accordingly, the older the plant, the higher the price it will bring. Most commercial producers harvest at 3 years for domestic use and 5 years for export. To have a steady, yearly supply you will need 3 to 5 locations you can grow from.
2 – To be certain it will grow without a greenhouse in your area, please check the USDA plant profile for a map
3 – If growing in heavily wooded areas, it must be grown near hardwood trees. Pine trees, cedars and such will not work.
4 – It will grow best on a slope that is facing North. If, however, you have the proper cover to block sunlight, the northern slope is not mandatory. There should be a minimum of 70% shade. The plants can handle a small amount of sun but too much can damage or kill your plants.
If you have limited space meeting those requirements, it is possible to screen the plants using either a natural screening plant or adding a man-made sun shade to block the sun. Many commercial grows have large fields covered with sun blocking materials such as tarps or sail cloth to block the sun.
5 – It prefers moist, but not wet soil. It grows best in soil that is 40% sand, 40% loam and 20% clay. Therefore, it is often found growing near creek banks or fast draining, flood prone areas, but does not do well in marshy areas. Commercial growers will often use slow soaker hoses to keep the soil damp.
6 – Seeds must be stratified for 18 to 22 months before planting. Most seeds purchased from dealers have already been stratified, but you should verify before purchasing (NOTE: the seeds Sotall.org gives away have already been stratified.) (NOTE 2: Your plants will not begin to produce seeds until the second year.) Plan accordingly if you are planning to a bead for each year.
How to Stratify American Ginseng Seeds
In nature, no matter where or how the seeds find their way to the ground, they will lay there through all 4 seasons for a period of 18 to 22 months before sprouting. This natural stratification process results in a small number of seeds growing new plants. Many seeds are eaten by birds and other small animals. Some will be washed away and land in places non-conducive to growth.
Humans have found ways to increase that yield dramatically using stratification boxes. Size and shape of the box are not important. But, consider it will be heavy when filled with seeds and sand. The top and bottom of the box must allow drainage. It also must be sturdy enough to remain solid for most of 2 years and keep out rodents who like to eat the seeds.
There are not a lot of images available to compare. The few I saw were mainly made of wood boards. I saw one where someone took a plastic storage box and modified it.
The image below is from ginsenggeek.org and makes the most sense of any I saw. The box is made of wood. The bottom of the box is made using 2 sheets of screen to allow drainage but hold in the sand and 1 of sheet of wire mesh for strength. His article does not state it, but I would suggest using a heavy-duty staple of some sort to attach the screens to the bottom of the box.
The top of the box should also have the same screen and mesh attached to the top. This will protect your seeds from being washed away or eaten by animals.
Start with a layer of sand on the bottom. Add a single layer of seeds and cover with another layer of sand. Repeat this process until all your seeds have been added or until you reach the top of the box. Attach the screen and mesh tightly (staples?), then bury. Your goal is to have about twice as much sand as seeds.
Check the seeds in spring of the first year
To ensure you have a good place picked to stratify your seeds, dig them up in the spring of the first year. Check for and remove any seeds that are soft, smelly or appear rotten. If any seeds have already started to sprout, they can be removed and planted now. All other seeds should be returned to the stratification box and reburied until the next spring.
Where to bury your seeds
The best place to bury your seeds is in the same area where they will be growing. This will ensure they are used to the environment they will be growing in. In other words, if you live in Georgia, but grow your ginseng at your bug out house in the Great Smokey mountains, bury your seeds at the bug out house, not in Atlanta.
It is usually best, unless you already live in the land where the box will be buried, to be secretive about where you bury your box. Make sure you can find the box when you return the next year, but do not mark it too obviously. There are those seeking to get rich who would love to steal your entire seed supply.
How long should the seeds stay buried?
Generally, it is considered they stay through the second spring from when they are gathered. Then planted in fall of that year. Exactly when they are harvested will vary depending on your location. It could be anytime between fall of the second year, to early spring of the first year on new plants. Once you know how they grow in your area, you can harvest at about the same time each year.
How to plant your seeds
By the fall of your second year, you should have everything ready to plant your seeds. If growing small scale, you should have a place in the woods picked out where the ground stays damp but not wet and there is little sunlight.
Seeds should be planted at a depth of ¼ to ½ in deep. Space seeds 3 to 6 inches apart in rows. Rows should be 6 to 9 inches apart. Cover with 1 to 2 inches of mulch to help retain moisture.
For commercial growers, have your field covers and water source in place before planting.
Planting from Roots
It is possible to grow plants from roots. Few choose this method because the root is the part of the plant that is used in medicine or sold.