Scott Harris, Sylvan Botanicals "New York
Ginseng" Cooperstown, New York
Summary released for publication June 20, 2001
With veneer prices at an all time high, some are calling for the logging out of these age-old majestic trees. I grant you, the offers for such large trees is attractive. If you plan to preserve the perfect environment for growing ginseng we suggest to let them remain, at least long enough to get one good harvest of ginseng roots. Veneer prices and wild-simulated ginseng will only go higher in the future. Perhaps by the time you choose to harvest your ginseng roots, you could receive double what is considered a generous amount now. Note: Trees that have passed maturity may need to be removed, discuss this with your forester or land consultant.
The soil under a stand of mature Sugar Maple trees offer the ginseng plant what it desires most; a high calcium level, a slight acidic pH of 4.5-5.5 plus a high canopy allowing an adequate supply of fresh air. Sugar Maple trees have an extensive near-surface root system that regulates the amount of moisture and maintains the cooler temperatures required by ginseng. Although this condition is great for growing ginseng, harvesting the ginseng roots from the thick mass of Sugar Maple roots will certainly tax your temper. Your reward will be clean and disease-free ginseng roots of the highest quality and value.
The deeper roots of the Sugar Maple will "pull" nutrients from depths unreachable by the ginseng root and accumulate the nutrients in the leaves. The leaves fall to the ground throughout the month of October, where they immediately begin the process of decomposition, thereby releasing nutrients that become available to the spring emerging ginseng plants. This annual supply of Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K) as well as micronutrients are all that the ginseng plant needs in order to survive and live a long healthy life. The relationship between the Sugar Maple and the Ginseng plant should be considered a "perfect marriage" and perhaps the best description of Agroforestry.
The lack of underbrush under Sugar Maple trees is to be considered an asset, provided the ground is not barren of all other plant life. If this is the case, you should remove some of the smaller trees to allow about 25% dappled sunlight to reach through to the forest floor. Choose younger trees that appear unhealthy, crooked, split or those that have a low "crotch" where the tree splits into 2 or more separate main trunks. Remove all dead standing trees and saplings. The remaining smaller trees will eventually replace the present mature canopy, so be sure to make your choices carefully.