SYLVAN BOTANICALS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page contains excerpts from actual email inquiries in regards to the cultivation, propagation and marketing of Ginseng and Goldenseal. The answers provided are based on results obtained from credible research projects. The author also includes his own opinions based on grower experience and personal research results and observations.
Q: In Penny Keller's "Ethno botanical Leaflets" she states that "Eleutherococcus senticosus ('Siberian Ginseng') contains the same properties as ginseng. Quote from her article: "The extract from its roots has exactly the same properties as that of ginseng". Will this effect the market value of my ginseng crops? Alex.T.,West Virginia
A: Another reason to question everything you read from ginseng "experts". No, Eleuthero contains Eleutherosides and Ginseng contains Ginsenosides. She used A.Baronov, a Russian researcher who concentrated the majority of his research on 'Siberian Ginseng' as a source for her information. Much research has been done since Baronovs's 40 year old (1966) report. I have read, and have in my library, most of what Baranov has written. The use of Eleutherococcus does mimic some of the qualities of ginseng and does exhibit some positive medicinal results.
Q: "I visited a website where a ginseng seed salesman claims that his ‘genetically crossbred’ seeds are far superior to any other. Is there any truth to his claim?" Henry P. Hillsdale, MI
A: Ginseng seeds have been sold, traded and exchanged throughout America since the middle 1800‘s. This practice continues today only on a much larger scale. Let me assure you that commercially grown ginseng has been crossbred many times over and every seed available on the market today has been repeatedly crossbred. Genetic diversity can play a positive role in the breeding of healthy plants, however, when you crossbreed with a new genotype, you not only introduce dominant genes, but the recessive genes as well, which may contain traits that could prove detrimental to plant vitality. I see where the author of the site you pointed out, by his own admission, states that they have problems in getting plants to grow for more than 10 years, yet he acknowledges the fact that "wild ginseng" will attain ages of a half century or more. Wild patches of ginseng are generally found in isolated sites and do not have the "benefit" of crossbreeding. It is a known fact that wild ginseng rarely shows signs of disease and can live to ages exceeding 100 years. I can see where an individual that is not familiar with the growing habits, scientific research data and general history of ginseng distribution throughout North America might be confused and make such a claim.
The popularity of becoming a ginseng grower has reached a fever pitch in this country. Unfortunately for the novice growers, this recent "ginseng craze" has brought to the surface a new crop of self-described ginseng "experts" that claim many years of growing expertise. Ask for proof of their claims, if they cannot supply you with such documents, better look somewhere else for an honest seed/root supplier.
We may not tell you what you want to hear, but the information you receive from us is based on scientific fact and actual growing experiences. We do not ask you to "get out your pencil" to calculate your profits prior to ever planting a single seed! The fact is that 80% of new growers will fail the first year. You must educate yourself with the facts based on soil samples, proper site selection, climate and experiences from reputable growers .
Q: "Can you explain the difference between "wild simulated", "woods grown" and "cultivated" ginseng?" Jeri Y. Gettysburg, PA
A: WILD SIMULATED: A purists description of a "Wild Simulated" planting would be as follows. 1. Choose an area that would normally support wild ginseng. 2. Prior to the time of the natural leaf drop in fall you randomly cast green (un-stratified) seeds at will in hopes that the falling leaves will cover the seed before it is consumed by the many natural predators of the ginseng seed. Planting in this manner is a waste of your time and money.
In order to increase your chances of success, you will have to "revise" the definition of "wild simulated" ginseng. The best method is to rake back the whole leaves, roto-till or use a steel garden rake to work the soil to a depth of 1" and scatter the seed at a rate of 3/4 - 1 lb. per 1000 square feet. Use a leaf rake to stir the seeds into the soil. Walk through the planted area and push any exposed seeds into the soil 3/4" and cover with 1 1/2" of finely shredded leaves (preferably Sugar Maple), cover the entire planting site with the previously removed whole leaves. Check the sites prior to the first snow cover and replace any bare areas where the leaves have been blown away by the wind. In the early spring you will have to remove the whole leaves down to the level of the shredded mulch. Whole leaves allowed to remain will restrict the seedlings from emerging.
You should see seedlings emerging from mid April through early May, depending on your location and climate. The value of ginseng roots grown in this manner could eventually parallel the price of the true wild, but only if allowed to grow for 12-15+ years. The longer you let your plants grow, the more valuable they will be. Avoid the use of any chemical sprays or fertilizers while allowing the plant to grow in the manner that nature intended. Slow and steady growth will produce roots indistinguishable to wild.
WOODS GROWN: Best described as any ginseng grown in a raised bed under natural shade. This term is loosely used in the ginseng industry. Many growers/producers of lower valued "cultivated" ginseng have enlisted into a campaign of transplanting mature roots into raised woodland beds. By allowing them to grow for a couple of years in this wooded environment, the roots can then be advertised as "woods-grown" ginseng. The average consumer is led to believe that these roots are of the same quality as "wild" because they were "harvested from the woods". The spraying of chemicals continues as before, with the only difference being that trees instead of plastic shade cloth now provide the required shade.
There are many growers that are successfully raising ginseng organically in a woodland setting. Less dense plantings combined with the avoidance of chemical sprays account for the higher than average prices these growers receive for their product.
CULTIVATED: The most costly method of growing ginseng. Generally grown in open fields under artificial shade structures. The ginseng plants are crowded into raised beds and forced to grow under unfamiliar conditions. Repeatedly sprayed with systemic and non-systemic chemicals to enhance root weight and combat disease, the ginseng plant continues it‘s resistance of being tamed by man.
Production costs average $18.00 per lb. dry weight. Growers were receiving as little as $5.00 per pound for their product last year due to a glut in the market. In the recent past, cultivated field grown ginseng was consistently bringing over $50.00 per pound and the profits justified the production costs. Large corporations were formed to grow ginseng on a grand scale. Production of cultivated roots increased to the point of absurd, prices began to fall as supplies outweighed demand. Greed alone is to blame for the decline of this once financially lucrative industry.
Q: "I see that Sylvan Botanicals buys wild ginseng roots, aren’t you partially responsible for it being endangered?" Clinton T. Athens, OH
A: You are absolutely correct, we do purchase wild ginseng during the legal season. We restrict our purchases to FRESH ROOTS ONLY for the purpose of replanting. We work with a small select group of responsible and ethical wildcrafters and provide them with free seed for replanting. As long as there is a legal season for the harvesting of wild ginseng, it will continue to be dug, dried and exported from our country. Our "adopted" wild roots remain alive and are returned back to the woods for the production of seed. This is indeed an expensive undertaking on our part with prices for fresh wild roots near $100.00 per pound! Roots that are damaged or deemed unfit for replanting are dried and either used as displays at ginseng educational workshops or sold for consumption.
Each year Sylvan Botanicals donates ginseng seeds to the United Plant Savers for planting back into the wild and will continue to do so in the future, we donate seeds to credible "not for profit organizations" and work closely with Colleges, Universities and the Cornell Extension Service assisting in ginseng research. My wife Sylva, and I plant approximately 25,000 ginseng seeds in remote locations throughout New York State each fall in hopes of re-establishing "wild" colonies. For further information on this subject we suggest you read the articles "Ginseng: Wild or Cultivated?" or "Is That Old Root Really Wild Ginseng?".
Q: "Do I have to register with the state in order to grow ginseng?" Tom C. Barre, VT
A: New York State does not require you to register to grow ginseng. You will need to apply for a dealer’s permit if you intend to export the roots out of New York State. Check with your local Department of Natural Resources for information pertaining to your state.
Q: "When is the best time to plant ginseng seed and roots, spring or fall?" James G. Blair, NB
A: The absolute best time to plant is as late in the fall as possible. Have your planting sites prepared and ready to go. It is highly advisable to get the seed into the ground as soon as possible upon receipt. Reputable seed dealers will ship to you at the proper planting time for your area. If you plant during mid to late summer you will risk heavy loss due to mice and the multitude of other woodland seed-eating pests. Rodents will be frantically gathering food for the winter during early fall and you are providing them with a very expensive and easy to locate nutrition source. If you wait until the weather turns colder, hopefully these critters will be less active and have the majority of their food reserves stored away.
Few growers claim to have good luck planting in the spring. In upstate New York, the seeds should be planted by March 15, unfortunately the ground is usually frozen tight at that time. If the ground is no longer frozen you will find it too wet to work without compacting the soil. Choosing the correct planting site in the spring is at best a coin toss. Here again you will be dealing with the predator problem, how thoughtful of you to provide a fresh meal to the awakening hungry rodents.
Most spring plantings are not by choice. During the long winter we have more time to spend reading and all it takes is one magazine article promising "get rich by growing ginseng" to ignite a fire that cannot be extinguished. The impatient reader must plant soon or be left behind while everyone else gets rich. The new grower buys a small amount of ginseng seed, plants them into what might be a suitable location, generally fails to see any plants and is soured on any future attempts at growing ginseng. Our best advice is to slow down, study the plants’ habits and demands, read everything you can on the subject, construct your beds and be ready to plant in the fall.
Q: "When can I expect to start harvesting my own ginseng seeds?" Karen P. Roseburg, OR
A: Occasionally a second year plant will produce a small flower and possibly 1 or 2 small seed berries. It will prove beneficial to the plant to pinch the flower stem prior to flowering. In doing so, you are forcing growth into the root. Seeds from young plants are generally not viable and will not germinate. Allow the plant to establish itself and begin harvesting seed in the third or fourth year.
Q: "I recently read where the export market wants small ginseng roots and that you should plant your seed ’tight’ to encourage the plants to produce the smaller more desirable roots. Can you explain to me why a smaller root is more valuable than larger one?" Steve P. Amherst, MA
A: By planting your seeds "tight" the only thing you will be encouraging is disease and loss of your crop. Dense plantings will invite fungal pathogens that will spread rapidly throughout your beds destroying your entire garden in a matter of days. Weather conditions and improper plant spacing are a major cause of disease in ginseng plants. Ginseng demands a constant supply of fresh air and room to breathe in order to remain healthy and disease free.
Age and appearance have always been the deciding factor in establishing market price. Cultivated ginseng prices have hit rock bottom due to a self-imposed glut brought about by over-production. It is difficult for growers of cultivated "artificial shade" grown ginseng to grow plants that exceed more than 6 years of age. It is possible for roots grown under these conditions to weigh nearly 1/2 lb. each! Unfortunately, due to their lack of character, disproportionate large size compared to age and a smooth white appearance, they are NOT what the market is seeking. Prices bottomed out at $5-12 per dry lb. last fall. These may be the roots your source is referring to.
It is an entirely different story when it comes to the wild and wild simulated ginseng roots. Both wild and wild simulated ginseng plants grow much slower than the chemically fed field-grown ginseng. Given ample time combined with the excellent growing conditions found in the Catskill Mountain Region of New York State, they will reach sizes equivalent to the cultivated roots. Slow and steady growth allows the wild and wild simulated ginseng to acquire the characteristics that licensed professional buyer’s desire. "NEW YORK’S OLDEST AND LARGEST WILD AND WILD SIMULATED ROOTS HAVE ALWAYS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER GINSENG IN AMERICA, FETCHING THE HIGHEST PRICES!" Retail market prices for the above-described roots exceeded $1000.00 per dry pound last fall.
Q: "Should I apply nitrogen to my ginseng plants?" Jim S. Winchester, VA
A: Only if you want to produce a fast growing, low quality root that will be prone to disease. Ginseng does NOT like high doses of nitrogen. It extracts what it needs from the decomposing organic matter found naturally in the soil. Your goal as a ginseng grower should be to produce a root that resembles the wild in every way, to include the flavor of the root. If chemical fertilizers or manure were used in the production of your ginseng, a distinct flavor will readily present itself upon the tasting of the root.
Q: "Do you use chemical sprays like CAPTANÒ, MANZATEÒ, MANEBÒ, ROVRALÒ, RIDOMILÒ or DITHANEÒ on your ginseng and are your ginseng seeds treated with any of these prior to shipping?" John A. Sturgis, MI
A: NO to both questions! Sylvan Botanicals does not use any chemical sprays on our ginseng. Our ginseng planting roots are grown wild simulated throughout our Sugar Maple woodlands. All ginseng seeds distributed by Sylvan Botanicals are treated for fungal diseases using our newly developed organic formula.
We grow our ginseng and other medicinal herbs to standards higher than those required by "Organic Certification Programs" supplying you with roots free of chemical residues. CAPTANÒ is commonly used to treat seeds and has been classified by the EPA as a "probable human carcinogen of low carcinogenic hazard". Tests also show that seeds treated with CaptanÒ show significantly lower rates of germination.
Q: "Is it OK to pull seeds from the stratifying pit and ship them in mid-summer, won’t this initiate premature germination?" Myron F. Susquehanna County, PA
A: Correct, not only can it trigger early germination, it can also send the seed into what is described as a "double dormancy" in which the seed will require an additional cold period prior to germinating. You might not see the seedlings emerge until the second spring following your fall planting. This "double dormancy" phenomenon is often why reputable seed dealers are accused of mixing green (un-stratified) seed in with the stratified lot. I must warn you that some seed dealers do mix green seed in with their stratified. Fortunately for the new grower this practice is uncommon. Established ginseng seed dealers rely on repeat sales in order to survive.
We ship your seed at the proper planting time for your area and urge you to plant as soon as possible. Extended storage (up to 3 months) of ginseng seeds in your refrigerator is a risky practice. The constant opening and closing of the refrigerator door can alter the temperature inside by as much as 8 degrees, thus mimicking the springtime temperature changes that trigger germination. Don’t be surprised if when you check on your seeds, you find a bag full of sprouts.
It is best to allow your seed supplier to care for the seeds until you are ready to plant. A stratification pit maintains a near constant temperature and moisture level in order to preserve the seed during the dormancy period. If they are pulled and shipped during hot weather, the seeds will most likely be exposed to high temperatures during shipment. High temperatures will undoubtedly kill the embryo and the seed will be lost.
Q: "A friend of mine says that the best time to plant Goldenseal rhizomes is from February 15th through August 15th. I say that this is the worst time to dig and divide any perennial plant. Isn‘t this the time when the plant is growing and forming seed?" Adrian H. Bend, OR
A: Goldenseal emerges in our area (Zone 4) during the first part of May and begins dying off in mid-August. Spring/Summer planting of Goldenseal is not recommended. As with most perennial plants, this is the growing season at which time the plant is forming seed, developing bud growth for next year and storing needed energy in the rhizome. The stored energy will enable the rhizome to over-winter safely and produce a healthy vigorous plant next spring. The only time to "dig and divide" is when the root system is in full dormancy. Professional growers recommended that Goldenseal be planted only in the fall.
Q: "Will the use of Goldenseal mask the presence of illegal drugs in a urine or blood test?" Richard W. Utica, NY
A: No! As a matter of fact, the use of Goldenseal prior to drug testing can produce a "false positive" and bring about a closer examination of the initial test results. The notion that Goldenseal has the ability to "hide" the use of drugs surfaced a few years ago and has since been dispelled by fact.
Q: "Is it better to start Goldenseal from seed or from rhizomes?" Paul S. Albany, NY
A: Goldenseal seeds are very expensive and the germination rates are generally low. The best method is to begin with healthy rootstock planted in the fall into loose well-drained soil. Our goldenseal rhizomes will average 40-70 per lb. with many having multiple active buds that will produce more than one top. They average in age from 3-4 years and reports are coming in of "100% success, all are up and forming berries". We do not divide the rootstock, what you receive is whole fresh rhizomes. You may divide if you wish, but we recommend that you plant them intact the first year to avoid transplant shock and plan to divide and replant the following fall.
Q: "How many years does it take for Goldenseal to mature and produce flowers/berries/seeds?" Robert L. Tonasket, WA
A: From seedling to maturity it will take from 3-5 years depending on your climate and growing conditions. Goldenseal will grow slower in colder climates and maturity will be delayed. By starting with our established planting stock, as opposed to seed, you should see berry production the spring following your fall planting. Goldenseal is a relatively short-lived plant. The original planted rootstock will begin to deteriorate after 5-6 years. The "mother" (original planted rhizome) sends out a mass of small yellow roots, these will form small buds and eventually become dominant as the host plant dies off, thus perpetuating the cycle of self-propagation.
If you plan on harvesting the rootstock for market you will need to monitor the root and dig it prior to its inevitable decline. At this time you will find the root to be at its peak weight and size. If your plans are to propagate and increase your planting areas, dig the main rootstock at 4 years and divide into 3-4 pieces, making sure there is at least one active swollen yellow bud on each section.
It is difficult to determine the age of Goldenseal plants. You cannot count the growth scars in the same manner as you do with ginseng to estimate the age of a goldenseal rhizome. A healthy mature plant will often send up as many as a dozen tops! Those not familiar with the plant’s growing habits will count the slight concave growth scars found on the woody rhizome and mistakenly claim the plant to be of that age. Age is not a major factor in determining market price of goldenseal.
Q: "Is it true that ginseng depletes the soil of nutrients to the point that it cannot be replanted in the same site after harvesting?" Chris C. Sussex County, NJ
A: It is true that your success will be severely limited by replanting in an area that previously supported ginseng. The cause is NOT attributed to nutrient depletion of the soil. The ginseng plant is a slow growing, non-invasive herbaceous perennial that asks little from the surrounding soil. The small amounts of nourishment that ginseng does require is provided by the annual drop of leaves, preferring those of the Sugar Maple. Deciduous trees draw nutrients from deep below the surface concentrating them into the developing leaf tissue. Upon having completed their yearly duty, the leaves are released from the tree and fall to the ground where they immediately begin to decompose and release stored nutrients and organic matter back into the soil. Ginseng is not a deep-rooted plant and the newly offered "meal" is readily accepted during the following growing season. Ginseng is not capable of depleting the soil of nutrients at a rate faster than it is supplied. If this were true the plant would certainly expire within a few years. Keep in mind that wild plants often reach ages of 50-100 years old without benefit from man's intervention.
The reason that growers run into problems with repeated plantings in the same site is due to the concentration of fungal pathogens (disease causing organisms) that have accumulated during the previous ginseng-growing period and NOT from soil nutrient depletion.
Q: "Why do you limit your seed sales to U.S. customers only?" Andy S. Ithaca, NY
A: As worldwide interest in the growing of ginseng rises, so does the opportunity for U.S. seed suppliers to cash in on the overseas markets. We assure you that the selling of American Ginseng seeds to other countries will eventually prove to be detrimental to U.S. growers and the market value of our high quality ginseng.
We admit to selling small amounts of seed to foreign countries in the past, but have enacted a strict policy of "ABSOLUTELY NO SEED OR PLANTING ROOT SALES OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES."
It goes without saying that we would prefer to have you purchase your ginseng planting stock from us. If you choose to buy from another supplier we urge you to ask them if they have your best interests in mind. Do they sell their planting stock to foreign countries? We want you to be successful and profit from your labor and financial investment. Be sure to contact us when you are ready to harvest and sell your mature roots.
Sylvan Botanicals Catskill Mountain Ginseng