TOPIC: Plants doing better than expected

Well I spent what few minutes yesterday that I had checking out my wild crop that i have been taking care of and the beds that i planted last fall.Out of the 100-150 2 year roots i planted for a seed producing bed i would say that 75-80% survived and are doing well.The seeds that i planted in the bed next too it i would say 90% of those survived.Looks like i will clear out for another 1/2 pound of seed for this fall.I'm going to invest in one of those stick seeders from Johnny's if they ever get them back in stock.
I did plant one pound of seed in various places 2 years ago with very little success.I found one small bed that i planted yesterday and the seed finally came up.there was one little 2 prong that must have sprouted last year the rest were just little seedlings.I wont be buying from that supplier anymore.
Anyway i have pictures of some really purdy 3 prongs on my phone but will take pictures and post this fall when the berries get ripe.I had one 3 prong last year that i got at lest 40 seeds from.Another below it produced 25-30 seeds.I won't know how they done until next spring though.
Cant wait to see what everyone else comes up with this fall

Good to hear your experience. Your's is a lot like mine, however I did plant a bunch more seed thatn you. My rootlest beds seemed to all come up, and if I didn't have a deer problem, I'd be very happy.

There's several of us here that had less than satisfactory germination rates. It would be great to say clearly that it's this problem or that problem however growing this finicky plant has a complex set of circumstances that contribute to optimal growth.

How is your soil? Tests showing good stuff?

Jughead,
Brad Castle also sells stick seeders.

www.castleen.com/ecf/seederorder.html

Thanks,
Latt

Yeap i have deer paths all around my beds but they haven't touched it. So far
Although I have a feeling that Deer may be useful to ginseng crops as long as they don't pull the whole plant out of the ground.They are more than beneficial to sweet potato crops that I have found from growing those.If they do pick the tops from sweet potatoes the growth from the tops then go to the roots.I'm not sure on Ginseng though I haven't been able to observe it close enough.My uncle who I farmed with for years told me to cut the tops out just as soon as the berries are ripe to keep poachers from finding my crop.i asked him if it would kill it and he said that it wouldn't that it would only make the plants stronger.His nephew that lives toward middle Tennessee cuts his tops mid summer to keep poachers from finding it.He doesn't get any seeds but he doesn't lose any to theft either.

I haven't made the first soil test.Since everything is growing like it is I'm going to just leave it alone for now.I may add a little Gypsum this fall or winter.

Have anyone else other than me found Seng growing out in near direct sunlight?Part of my patch is growing on top of a hilltop that has been clear cut.This was done 3 years ago and the plants seem to be doing very well.It also looks like seng loves to grow under Holly trees also.Don't know if its a freak of Nature and the plants are adapting to the change or they will eventually die out.I am going to keep my eye on them very closely and see if they are going to make it.If not i'm going to try transplanting them in a spot a little more suitable.

Thanks latt I'll keep that one in mind too.I have got to make a little easier on myself so i can plant more than i have been.