TOPIC: Seng Emergence in Maine

Lookin good - Classicfur. It's always a good feeling when plants start emerging in spring.

Classic,
Those are healthy seedlings and more mature plants. Congrats!


Fellows,
I have been telling you about the long drawn out late emergence that I am having and since we have had a couple of days of rain I thought I would get the camera out and just show you a small fraction of what has come up in the last two days and particularly overnight. Take a look on my website. It's been two full months and and they look like they are just starting in the Spring.
Hugh

smokymountainflyguide.com/Choosing%20pla...20grow%20ginseng.htm

Hugh

That's amazing that they just keep coming up.

I have heard that in some testing, that there was better germinatin when there was plenty of moisture.

I wonder about your seedling in that they emerge after each rain.

Interesting!

Nice lookin seedlings.

classicfur

How about planting depth or maybe heavy leaf litter as reasons for a delayed emergance? I could see some seedlings having trouble getting through a lot of leaves or heavy leaves such as oak.

Maya,
I could see some problems with Oak leaves, but I only have a few trees on the outside edges of my woodlots. Almost all of my plantings are under Maples, Hickorys, and Poplars. Also. I planted three different ways and I was a little sceptical that I got every thing covered deep enough with the Rake and Scatter method. I think overall that I planted at about 1/2 inch depth.

Hugh

Fellows, I just got the results back from a Soil Survey Test and I will try to copy and place it on my website to get opinions about. I will appreciate any followups on this. I have seen some dicussion on the board about the best soil readings , but I haven't been able to find it through Search.

Hugh

I could'nt find the soil test results on your website.

classicfur

Classic,
I had a guided trip yesterday and I did not get a chance to use the copying machine. I may just try to take a picture of it and download it to my website if it is clear enough. I did another search and found TN's Soil Test Report and it is very similar to it. The Calcium level in my soil is 1853 and I would like to get that up higher. I did not find in that thread how to break down the recommended fertilizer applications of 30/30/120 tons per acre.. It also said Lime is not recommended at this time and No additional nitrogen needed as a side dressing. I'll try to get a pic of the Report in a few minutes.

Hugh

Hugh,
Yea 1,853 PPA on calcium is a bit low. 3,000 to 5,000 PPA is better. Phosphorous is another very important element and should be at 100 PPA.
So Gypsum is the way to go for adding calcium to your soil verses lime if you do not want to raise your PH level. Where is your PH level?
Latt

Hugh

Like Latt said, your calcium level should be atleast 3000 ppa.

In Scott Persons book, he suggests 100 lbs of gypsum per 1000 sqft if your clacium level is below 1000ppa, and 50 lbs per 1000 sqft if your level is below 2000 ppa.

So you would apply 5 pounds of gypsum per 100 sqft.

classicfur

Fellows,
A picture of the Soil Survey is on the website now. Take a look at it, and thanks for the advice so far. If you see anything that needs more comment, feel free.
Hugh

smokymountainflyguide.com/Choosing%20pla...20grow%20ginseng.htm