How to Grow Ginseng Root

• 1

  Choose a location for growing ginseng located on the north or east side of a woodland slope with at least75 percent shade coverage. Ginseng prefer moist, well-drained soils with loamy topsoil, high leafmold and clay subsoils. The site for your ginseng should be secure to guard against poachers. Areas of property that border public lands, access roads or neighboring homes may be high-risk areas for ginseng poaching.

• 2

  Purchase seed in July or August, when the highest-quality ginseng seed is available. Seed purchased in fall is of lower quality than seed purchased in late summer. You will need 10 pounds of seed per half-acre of woodland.

• 3

  Plant ginseng seed in November after the leaves have fallen from the trees. Plant your seed in rows that are 5 feet wide and 50 foot long. Space each row 3 feet apart. Each row should run up and down a slope rather than crosswise. Plant seed by hand. Use a hoe to create furrows that are spaced 18 inches apart in each row. Place seeds 3 inches apart in each furrow and cover with ¾ inch of soil and 1 inch of leaves.

• 4

  Harvest the roots of ginseng in seven to 10 years. Wild-simulated ginseng will grow without additional cultivation.

Cultivated Ginseng

• 5

  Create a raised bed by piling up soil so the bed is elevated 6 to 8 inches above the surrounding soil. Ginseng beds should be located on the north or east side of a hill, and should run up and down the hill so that they have maximum drainage. Ginseng root will not tolerate standing water.

• 6

  Till the bed so that the soil is loosened to a depth of 8 inches. Ginseng beds should be 4 to 6 feet wide.

• 7

  Create furrows through the beds with a rake. Hand-plant the seeds ½ inch deep. Space each seed 2 to 3 inches apart. Cover with soil and no more than 2 inches of leaf mulch or clean straw.

• 8

  Weed ginseng beds to prevent competitive weeds from establishing themselves in the beds. Shade ginseng plants by suspending shade cloth over them to simulate the effects of nearby trees.