TOPIC: How to keep it green?

Okay so I dug this really big man root. I think I'm going to try to keep it green until I can get it certified so I can hopefully sell it individually on eBay. What is the best way to keep it green for a long period of time? Right now I've got it in an ice cream bucket in the vegetable bin of my refrigerator.

Mississippi wrote:

Okay so I dug this really big man root. I think I'm going to try to keep it green until I can get it certified so I can hopefully sell it individually on eBay. What is the best way to keep it green for a long period of time? Right now I've got it in an ice cream bucket in the vegetable bin of my refrigerator.

If you keep it in water or very moist peat moss, it should keep for at least a week or more. Most of the green roots sold on eBay are shipped in moist peat moss and this also seems to keep them fresh for quite awhile. Make sure to check on the root daily to ensure that no mold develops on it and that it does not develop cracks. Another choice, is to bury it in good soil in the woods making sure that it has sufficient moisture until you are ready to take it to have it certified.

Good luck on selling it!


Frank

huntsman53 wrote:

Mississippi wrote:

Okay so I dug this really big man root. I think I'm going to try to keep it green until I can get it certified so I can hopefully sell it individually on eBay. What is the best way to keep it green for a long period of time? Right now I've got it in an ice cream bucket in the vegetable bin of my refrigerator.

If you keep it in water or very moist peat moss, it should keep for at least a week or more. Most of the green roots sold on eBay are shipped in moist peat moss and this also seems to keep them fresh for quite awhile. Make sure to check on the root daily to ensure that no mold develops on it and that it does not develop cracks. Another choice, is to bury it in good soil in the woods making sure that it has sufficient moisture until you are ready to take it to have it certified.

Good luck on selling it!


Frank

Good advice Frank. The best way to keep them is burried in well drained woodland soil, but can be rather inconvenient.... if your not going to have it for more than a week to ten days then it should keep fine like you have it, although it will lose a little weight. If stored in water the weight loss wont be a problem, but it wont keep as long and could end up splitting/cracking....

Okay here's what I'm up against... I have to get this root certified twice. Once in Mississippi and then again in Alabama. I expect this whole process to take several weeks. So, I guess my best bet is to take it out of the fridge and put it back in some soil. I dug it Friday afternoon, and yes I did wash it like a dummy. It's been in the fridge for almost two days now. Do y'all think it would survive in some soil after all this? Also what if I put in some soil in a pot instead of planting it back in the woods? That way I could keep it indoors or on my porch. Is this a bad idea? Thanks guys for all your help!

Mississippi wrote:

Okay here's what I'm up against... I have to get this root certified twice. Once in Mississippi and then again in Alabama. I expect this whole process to take several weeks. So, I guess my best bet is to take it out of the fridge and put it back in some soil. I dug it Friday afternoon, and yes I did wash it like a dummy. It's been in the fridge for almost two days now. Do y'all think it would survive in some soil after all this? Also what if I put in some soil in a pot instead of planting it back in the woods? That way I could keep it indoors or on my porch. Is this a bad idea? Thanks guys for all your help!

I doubt that the washing of the root, then keeping it in the fridge for two days really hurt it in any way, especially since they go without rainfall for weeks at a time! As long as the root did not really dry out while in the fridge, it should be okay! If you are going to the trouble of placing it in soil, then do so in a large bowl, add a little water to it, then cover the bowl and store it in a cool place or the the fridge. You really don't want the root to get too warm as this could evaporate the moisture you added to the soil. I would imagine that this would more closely imitate the root being in th ground in a fall type environment, awaiting Spring!

Question: If you left the root in the bowl with the soil and did not remove it until after the Ginseng Harvesting Season ends, would this violate the regulations or Laws of digging the root out of season? LOL!! Just thought I would add that tidbit but something that some dumb Legislators might come up with!


Frank

You know it does look kinda like Popeye! Got some muscles in his arms
I hope to have ol' Popeye sold before the season closes!

Mississippi wrote:

You know it does look kinda like Popeye! Got some muscles in his arms
I hope to have ol' Popeye sold before the season closes!

LOL!! Good luck and I hope he brings you lots of Spinach!


Frank