TOPIC: Starting Seeds Indoors

Hello Everyone- I'm new to posting on here but I've wached the forum for the past few months. I just recently ordered my first seeds ( i've dug for 10 years just never bought seeds to plant) I was wondering if anyone has ever started seeds inside during the winter then transplanted in spring. I drew up a rack system with boxes on shelves set at an angle to mock a slope. I also have a way rigged up to provide artifical shade. I have a building with heat, air, humidifier, dehumidifier,water and electricity. I was wanting to see about starting a couple hundred seeds inside for the winter and see how they do.Is this good idea, bad idea, or terrible idea. I live in Missouri. I also was wondering about planting times. I'm sure there's a thread on here about it but my computer only let's me look at 2 pages before I have to start over. I should get my seeds (1/4 lb) mid next week. Is it better to plant it now, or keep my seeds moist until begining of next spring? I have also read the advice on start small if it's the first time and add more later on. How much is starting small? I've got 1800 (roughly) seeds on the way. I'd like to buy another half pound this year, then next year get 2-4lbs and 3-5 lbs for the next 15-20 years, who knows from there. I guess I'm trying to ask how much is small on here. Great site, I am amazed at some of the patches I see on here. I had no idea that anyone grew seng like some of these patches. If I had done a little research 10 years ago I might be in pretty good shape rite now. I only managed to dig 1.2 lbs this year, love to have 10 but that 1 was fun enough for me. Thanks in advance for the answers and sorry for writing a novel for my first post. Thanks.

I'm not an expert but I don't think it's a good idea. If you're getting stradified seed they need to be in the ground as soon as possible because they will start sprouting soon for next years growth.
Also,ginseng needs something like 45 days below freezing temperatures through the winter months to thrive.

rootman

The issue you are going to face is that ginseng needs a cold dormancy period. If you are buying stratified seed, they have been through the first 2/3 of their stratification, and will only sprout if they make it through the last 1/3 which is cold.

Interesting thought, keep us posted.

I have tried it twice. They eventually came up great and looked healthy. I had the right soil mix, lighting and moisture. Unfortunately they just do not make it. They slowly start to die off one by one for no apparent reason until there are none left. I tried the same thing indoors with 1 year old rootlets. Same pattern, all looked great in the beginning but they do not grow well or at all indoors for some reason.
Good luck if you try anyway.
Latt

That's the information I was looking for. Thanks guys. I might try a few plants in a flower pot but I won't try my massive 2 or 300 plants I was going to. I was kind of thinking that the cold process might have something to do with it. I will probably go ahead and get the seeds out in the next week or so, I'm gun shy about it now after thinking about turkey's getting into the patch. I'm going to plant my seeds in between 2 of my patches. There's about 200 yards between the patches and I'm going to put them inbetween. Anxious to get the seeds and my book and get it going. Thanks for the info.