Ginseng

Plant Profile

Ginseng are grown for the root and can be grown in the home garden. It is a slow growing perennial plant that prefers a shaded woodland position. Usually grown from seed available for sale from a few suppliers in Australia. The roots are harvested for medicinal uses.

Growing and Care

The best way grow ginseng is to mimic its natural growing conditions, a shaded position with lots of humus rich soil. Seed can be germinated by planting in the autumn, seeds are planted close to the surface. Remmeber that it might take 7 – 8 years for ginseng to grow to a size worth harvesting. Try not to water and do not use fertilizer other than natural compost. Many commercial growers use 75% shade cloth to help create the woodland conditions that ginseng thrives on.

Seeds can take up to 2 years to germinate and do require cold winters. We suggest a well dug humus rich loose soil, rake a little, seeds surface planted and covered with a little light humus rich mulch. In a natural woodland setting try to find a position that has little competition from weeds, but does support plants. Ideally a south facing slope beneath deciduous trees.

Remember that shade is essential, hot sun will kill ginseng plants, and as for growing Ginseng indoors…. we have not found anyone who has successfully done this, so forget it.

Species and varieties

Ginseng or Panax ginseng has been used in Korean and Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years. The American variety is Panax quinquefolius. Panax vietnamensisis is the Vietnamese variety. While what is called Siberian ginseng is Eleutherococcus senticosus and is not really ginseng.

Futher Reading

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• Ashwagandha
• Gotu Kola

Ginseng Plants and, or Seeds are available for sale form the following suppliers