When is the best season to plant ginseng?

Ginseng is a common and precious medicinal material with high market value and promising planting prospects. For friends who want to grow ginseng, it is very important to know the specific planting time . So when is the best season to plant ginseng? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the best season to plant ginseng?

Ginseng does not have many requirements for planting time and can be planted in spring, summer and autumn. Spring is generally in late April, when the temperature is stable and the soil is thawed, so seedlings can emerge in the same year after planting; summer planting time is between June and July. It is best to complete planting by the end of June in the northern region to avoid low temperatures in the later period, while in the south it can be postponed to early to mid-July; autumn planting can be completed by the end of October, and as long as it is properly managed, it can grow well.

What are the requirements for growing ginseng ?

1. Soil

Soil suitable for growing ginseng should have low bulk density, high porosity, good air permeability, high organic matter content, loose texture, water and fertilizer retention, stable soil microbial structure with beneficial bacteria as the dominant species, and a slightly acidic environment with a pH value of 6.0-6.5.

2. Lighting

Ginseng is a shade-tolerant plant and does not like strong direct sunlight. If the light is too strong, the plant will be short and the leaves will be thick and yellow. Therefore, when planting ginseng, 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 afraid of high temperatures but can tolerate severe cold. The average temperature during the growth period of ginseng should be between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. The temperature required for germination after sowing is above 10℃, the temperature required for 1-2 year old plants is stable above 12℃, and the most suitable temperature during the growing period is 20-25℃.

4. Moisture

Ginseng has very strict requirements on water: it likes water but is afraid of waterlogging. Too much water, when the soil humidity exceeds 60%, will cause insufficient air in the soil, affecting the breathing of ginseng roots, making it susceptible to disease and root rot. When the soil moisture is too low and is below 30%, the moisture in the ginseng roots will diffuse, causing the ginseng roots to dry up and resulting in a decrease in yield.

5. Fertilizer

Ginseng is a fertilizer-loving plant. After the seedlings are all grown, you should loosen the soil and dig trenches to apply fully decomposed organic fertilizer to increase soil nutrients. If there is dry weather, water the plants in time to avoid root burn. If you want to strengthen the roots and seedlings, you can also apply foliar fertilizer to promote the development and growth of the root system and improve the nutrient absorption rate.

In general, ginseng cultivation is a high-input and high-income farming industry, especially because it requires a lot of time costs. Therefore, for those who want to grow ginseng, they need to have certain professional knowledge and experience to achieve successful planting.