KRose wrote:THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT
AND THANK YOU TO HE WHO ANSWERED
!!! I was just going to ask that and would have had to try describe them because I do not have pics to upload. Altho I am in SW PA...THAT IS ALL I HAVE BEEN FINDING that resembles ginseng and I'm SOOO FRUSTRATED!!! I think I have the perfect medium...North facing slope...steep grade, stream at the bottom, fern, poplar trees (oak too tho
). Those blasted Virginia things are everywhere!
KRose,
Welcome to the Wildgrown Forums! You are probably searching areas that have been hit hard by other Ginseng diggers and probably a few poachers. You need to get further back into the mountains, off of the beat and path but plan accordingly. Make sure to take extra water and maybe energy drinks, food that can be packed small and lightweight, energy bars and some rope and survival items (matches or a firestarter, survival blanket, bear pepper spray, something to cook or boil water in, etc.) just in case you get lost or have to spend a night or two in the woods. I lived in West Virginia for 10 years and know that there is some serious wilderness areas in Southwest Pennsylvania. If you know that you are in perfect areas due to the companion plants and lay of the mountains and land and you are not finding any Ginseng down low (i.e. from the half way up a ridge or hollow side to the bottom of the ridge or hollow), try coming in from the top and working the top and sides of ridges downward towards where you climbed up to before. I have seen it many times, that the Ginseng growing down lower was completely wiped out but some Sangers forget or don't think to go up high or are just lazy and I have found lots of Ginseng growing on game trails on the tops and sides of ridges. Game trails are always good places to look when you are in a good area as Deer, Turkey, Grouse and other animals and birds eat the Ginseng berries with seeds inside and then expel them along game trails as they forage or travel through the forests.
Good luck and be safe!
Frank