Ginseng Planting Conditions and Methods

Ginseng, known as the "king of herbs", is a very valuable medicinal plant with a long history of cultivation in many Eastern countries. Its medicinal effects are mainly attributed to the active biological components such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides contained in the root. At present, many people in our country are also trying artificial cultivation. Let’s learn about the conditions and methods of ginseng cultivation .

1. Planting conditions

1. Soil

Ginseng has high requirements for soil and is suitable for growing in sandy loam that is rich in humus, has a deep soil layer, loose texture, strong water permeability and good drainage. Forest humus is the best choice. The soil should be neutral or slightly acidic. Alkaline soil is not suitable for planting.

Ginseng has very strict requirements for water. It likes water but is afraid of waterlogging. When the soil moisture exceeds 60%, insufficient air will affect root respiration, easily leading to disease and root rot. When the humidity is lower than 30%, the roots will lack water, causing the fibrous roots to dry up, which will in turn affect yield. Ginseng's soil moisture requirements at different growth stages are as follows: maintain at about 40% during the spring seedling stage, between 45%-50% during the summer growth period, and 40%-50% in autumn. The best humidity range throughout the year is 40%-50%.

2. Lighting

Ginseng prefers shade and is suitable for growing under scattered light, avoiding direct sunlight. Too much light will cause the plant to be short and have thick and yellow leaves; too little light will cause the plant to be slender, with thin and dark green leaves and abnormal growth. Therefore, when cultivating ginseng, appropriate shade should be provided, light transmittance should be adjusted, direct sunlight should be avoided, and scattered light and refracted light should be used.

3. Temperature

Ginseng is cold-resistant but afraid of high temperatures. The ideal average temperature during its growth and development period is 15-20℃. When the temperature is above 30℃ or below 10℃, ginseng will enter a dormant state. It can survive the winter safely at temperatures as low as -40°C. When the ground temperature reaches above 10℃ in spring, renewal buds can germinate, but the "slow sun freeze" phenomenon in early spring (temperature fluctuations cause repeated freezing and thawing of the ground surface) can cause frost damage and root bark damage. The temperature needs to be kept above 10℃ during the seedling stage after sowing, the temperature for 1-2 years should be stable at above 12℃, the most suitable temperature during the growth period is 20-25℃, the leaves will scorch at high temperatures above 36℃; when it is below -6℃, the stems will lose their ability to grow.

4. Fertilizer

Ginseng likes fertilizer, but cannot tolerate uncomposted fertilizer. It is suitable to apply organic fertilizer and decomposed inorganic fertilizer. If undecomposed manure is applied or the soil is water-deprived after fertilization, it will easily cause root burn and root rot.

2. Planting Method

Ginseng usually grows slowly in the forest, the plants are taller, the leaves remain light green and the leaves are thinner. During its growth cycle, the elongation process of the plant and pedicel is longer. Compared with the full shade shed, the seedling emergence time is 6 days later, and the leaf expansion and flowering time are also 4 days later. In a forest environment, it takes a long time for ginseng to complete each growth stage: 21 days for seedlings to emerge and 17 days for leaf expansion, while under a full shade shed, the times are 19 days and 13 days respectively. The growth rate of two-year-old ginseng seedlings planted in the forest when harvesting four-year-old ginseng roots is between 21.4% and 44.0%, and the growth rate under the full shade shed is as high as 170.3%. However, the seed yield of ginseng plants grown in forests was slightly higher than that of those grown in full shade shelters. Due to insufficient shade in the forest, the above-ground part of ginseng is often difficult to see in July and August.

1. Selection of vegetation

The tree species, shade and soil properties vary on different slopes in the forest. For example, tree species such as poplar and phellodendron have small leaf areas and limited shading effects. The humus layer formed under the forest is shallow, and their roots mostly extend in parallel (10-15 cm), which may affect ginseng's absorption of nutrients and water and is not conducive to its growth. On the contrary, ginseng grows better in broad-leaved forests or mixed forests dominated by oak and linden . The leaves of these trees are large and dense, which can effectively shade and promote the thickening of the humus layer. In addition, the tree crown is large, the forest density is moderate, the gaps are evenly distributed, and there is no large area of ​​direct sunlight. These conditions are all conducive to the growth of ginseng. In the Changbai Mountain area, it is suitable to choose shady or semi-shady slopes that are middle-aged or older with a slope of less than 25°, and mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests and broad-leaved forests dominated by red pine. The soil in these areas is fertile, loose, has strong water retention and good air permeability, which is very suitable for ginseng growth.

2. Choice of slope direction

The soil temperature and moisture conditions on different slopes are different, which affects the growth of ginseng. The ginseng plants on the east and north slopes are stronger and taller, with well-developed root systems; the seedling survival rate on the east and south slopes is higher (over 95%). The seedlings emerge earlier on the south and west slopes, but later on the north slope due to higher soil moisture and slower ground temperature recovery. When the soil temperature is 10-15℃ and the soil moisture is 22%-32%, it is conducive to ginseng germination. The soil temperature on the north slope changes more slowly and the soil has sufficient moisture, which makes the ginseng grow stronger, with fewer diseases, dark green leaves, delayed withering by half a month, and a higher weight gain rate per plant.

3. Soil selection: Ginseng is a perennial root plant that grows continuously in the soil for several years, which consumes a lot of soil fertility. Therefore, fertile humus soil rich in organic matter should be selected. The ideal structure of soil in the forest is: the subsoil is yellow clay, the middle layer is active loess, and the surface layer is humus. The thickness of the humus layer should be more than 7 cm, and it should be covered with a layer of dead branches and leaves of more than 4 cm. Woodland soil should be kept moist and well-drained year round. Ginseng understory cultivation should be carried out in forest land that has not been trimmed and remains in its natural state.

The above is an introduction to the planting conditions and some methods of ginseng. There are many ways to plant ginseng, and you can choose according to your own conditions.