Question for GRIZ on Ginseng

[kayaker]

Hey Griz
I seen in your profile that you dig ginseng. I've always been interested in doing it but I know nothing about it. Any information you could give me would be great. Here's a few questions that come to mind.
Where does it grow? (wet,dry,shady,sunny)
When do you harvest it?
How to identifiy it?
Do you need a license?
Is there a good market for it?
And anything you can think of that would be helpful to know.
Thank You

[GRIZ]

To start off with it grows in the woods, usually on the north sides of a hill. Ideally it gets between 70-85% shade. Around here the best woods seem to be ash or basswood and maple can be good. I havn't had much luck in oak woods and none in evergreens. Although I did find a plant once under a ceder tree. I believe they don't like a soil too high an acid content and is the reason for it's dislike for oak and evergreen.

The best soil is a moist rich sandy type loam that is well drained. September 1st the season opens and you can dig until the plant die. They will turn a color of yellow before dieing which is unlike anyother in the woods and is very easy to find then. Usually at the start of the season they will be green with a cluster of red berries in the middle.



No license has been needed but I've heard that may have changed this yr.? The best place I've found to sell it is to this fur buyer from around Owatonna. I can't think of his name off hand. The value of the root goes up and down similar to that of furs.

When digging it take care to dig up the whole root without damaging it. If the plant has any berries they legally have to be replanted within 10 feet of where found. When you get home with the roots rinse and clean the dirt off. Don't use any type of a brush to clean the dirt off as it can damage the skin thus lowering it's value.

One other thing if the woods has been pastured in the last 25 yrs don't waste your time looking there. I'm not sure a person can dig it on public hunting land, I don't know forsure as I don't know any woods around here that look good on public land. You might want to check with the DNR to find out.

[kayaker]

Thanks Griz for the great information. This gives me a good starting point. I will be keeping my eyes open this summer to if there is any growing in this area. The picture that you posted of the plant sure looks familiar. It'll be hard to find woods around here that hasn't been pastured in 25 years though.

[luvnlife]

Thanks Griz, I too will keep an eye out for this. Do you use it personally? If so for what? One more thing to add to walking in the woods, gotta luv it!!!
LUVNLIFE

[GRIZ]

I forgot to mention it must be dried. After rinsing them off, spread them out on an old screen until they are hard. Then they can be stored in a paper bag.

The active ingredient of the root is ginsinosides (sp). It is argued as to it's effectivness. Over in Asia they think it fixes all kinds of things colds, flu, cancer, nerve issues, serves as an aphrodisiac, you name it. For what they pay for it I don't use it myself. I sell it and go buy some beer.

[ScottPugh]

Is there something VERY similar to that in the Grand Rapids area?  I know of a bunch that can be found very easily!!!

[GRIZ]

It could be the stuff. There are other plants that look similar to it also. Sometimes one has to get pretty close to tell the difference.

[kayaker]

If I would dig a plant that looks like ginseng but is not, will I be able to tell by the root? In other words, is there anything characteristic about the root that would help me identify it?

[GRIZ]

It is a fleshy type root not woody. Kinda resembles a messed up carrot in a way but smaller. It may have a few legs or shoots coming off it. It's usually cream to tan in color. It will have a neck where the plant grows out of. Every yr it leaves a new scar on the neck, thus you can tell the age of a root by counting the scars. Well kinda sometimes the root decides not to grow a new plant for a yr or so.
I would expect that alot of them will not grow a plant this yr as the dry conditions last fall. I dug a bunch last yr that showed no sign of a new bud for the next yr. It's hard to explain, I'll try and search for some pics.

[kayaker]

Thanks again Griz for even more great information. I'm going to give it a try this year. I may have a few more questions for you as the season progresses. I'm getting ready now to dig some wild onions. They're usually ready from late april to mid may. They have a bulb about the size of a green onion and have a very robust flavor.
Thanks again for your help.
Ron