American Ginseng - Key Growing Information
DAYS TO GERMINATION:
180+ days.SOWING:
Sow directly, ½–¾" deep (never deeper than 1") and about 3" apart, roughly 15–20 seeds per square foot. Cover with 3–4" of leaf or straw mulch and wet it down so it stays put. Seedlings are tiny at first and look a bit like bean sprouts with three small leaves. Keep the bed weeded, working gently around young plants so roots aren't disturbed. Once established, the mulch helps keep weeds down.LIGHT PREFERENCE:
Shade. American ginseng does best in its native setting under a hardwood canopy giving 70% shade or more, ideally oak, maple, sycamore or basswood.SOIL REQUIREMENTS:
Loose, humus-rich loam with a pH of 5.0–6.0. Good drainage is essential for healthy plants.PLANT HEIGHT:
Grows about 8–16" tall.PLANT SPACING:
Space plants 3–6" apart.HARDINESS ZONES:
Hardy in Zones 4–8.HARVEST:
Roots can be dug after the third season, but ginsenoside levels rise sharply between years four and five, so many growers wait. Dig in early fall (late August or early September), when ginsenoside content peaks just after the tops die back and roots go dormant.University extension services publish detailed ginseng production guides for more information.
