TOPIC: Hugelkutur Style Beds For Ginseng Growing??

Thinking about setting up some Hugelkutur style beds for this falls ginseng planting.

The process of setting up beds.
Cut wood and lay out on ground or dig a hole
Bury wood with about 2ft of soil

Any pros or cons of using this method for ginseng?

trahn007,
A couple things come to mind. I am not sure how long it will take for the Hugelkutur style beds to decompose. I would think if fully decomposed then it may be possible if the Calcium and PH levels are correct. Correct being 3,000 to 6,000 PPA on the Calcium and a PH level of 5.4 to 6.5. Also if you are doing it out in the open then you are going to need some 80% Shade cloth to cover the Hugelkutur bed if it does decompose. How much heat does a Hugelkutur bed throw off before fully decomposed and how long does it take one to decompose of that magnitude in the pic you posted? Just thinking that the heat generated from the Hugelkutur bed could be detrimental to the seeds or little rootlets.

Latt

Latt the one in the pic is a bed for vegs. I did a shiitake spawn in that one and am worried about the heat also. The one I would like to set up would be in a forest setting but they do take sometime to set up. Your points are well taken... Thanks... Maybe I'll try a small bed but let sit for more than one year.

Latt the wood would be a high carbon source without a high nitrogen source don't think heat will be an issue in a forest setting bed. How much will that carbon breaking down over time alter soil PH I'm just not sure. One thing I'm really interested in is how will the root grow in this bed over time. I've done some reading on these beds and the one I'm setting up now will be my first one so really not sure how the vegs. will even grow in them.LOL

Interesting thought.

I wonder if you could use mostly mulched up straw and leaves and let those decompose down. They might cause less heat than mostly green mulches.

trahn

Thats an interesting idea.

I know a while back I read something from Beyfuss or Persons about growing seng in decomposed wood matter.

So a few years ago I tried planting seng seeds into old moss covered tree stumps that were cut down many years ago. The wood stumps were so decomposed that all I had to do is push the seeds down into the rotted wood and push some of the rotted wood matter over the top. I have some two, three and four year old roots that are growing very well in those old rotted stumps.

I will share some pics of those when my plants start to emerge.

I do like your idea, but I would try it with rotted wood limbs instead of fresh cut wood.

Thanks for sharing this.

classicfur

I bet it would work nicely, but you would have to age it properly to get good results.

Like make a bed like that one summer or fall, and plant stratified seeds in it the next fall.

Time will take care of decomposing everything and once that is done the heat will be gone.

When you do find ginseng growing right beside a old decomposing log it always looks happy growing there.

Now growing in a deep pile of decomposed woody compost could make the roots less (wild looking). They may grow longer and straighter than they would if growing in your standard hard rocky woods soil.

Could be a great way to setup and grow a seed producing bed though.

Good Luck !

TNhunter

Thanks 4 the replies guys!!! TNhunter I was thinking of a seed bed due to not so wild looking roots. I have some very aged wood I'm going to start today setting up this bed. I'll post pics of the process. Would it hurt to add some bonemeal to this bed without a soil sample? Don't think a soil sample for this set would matter much at this point.... what do ya's think?