TOPIC: ginseng in clear-cut

Hi everyone, the dry and hot weather is a killer, northern Wisconsin has had a fair amount of rain.

Has anyone here had any experience with clear-cutting on hardwoods with a ginseng population? I know clear-cutting certain areas and wood types is normal, and have had it done over the years, but I have never seen hardwood clear-cut like some companies are now doing. I wonder if the young growth is enough to protect the ginseng plants, or are they done for?

It pretty well kills off any ginseng thats growimg due to the heat and sunburn and yes I knew of a place ginseng thrived and now not a sprig to be found.

rootman

I have seen ginseng doing well in places that have been select cut, 10-15 years earlier..

Clear cutting is quite different though.

If any do make it, I would expect it would be big healthy plants, with substancial root. You know it would send up a top in the spring, and for the first month or two (cooler weather), it would probably do OK, but then burn later on and die off early. It might even sit dormant for a year or two after being mis-treated like that and then after 3-4 years send up a top again.

In 3-4-5 years a clear cut area should be really over grown with brush and the ground shaded quite a bit.

I have not checked that out in a clear cut area but that seems like it might happen like that.

You know Ginseng is a survivor - and would not give up easily.

It could be that only the big old roots, in ideal growing conditions (soil wise) and on steeper north facing hillsides, or lucky ones growing on the east side of a big stump or rock - would have the chance of making it and everything else would just suffer too much and eventually die off.

TNhunter

The northern states I think don't have the sun angle that the southern states have. I say this because we can find plants on western slopes here if enough shade is present. The plants I find on more open areas that are stressed have leaves turning red, these usually don't come up again that I can tell. One forty here that was clear-cut has many young trees that are five to ten feet high and I will have to go into the cut (ugh) to look closer. Cut over is a pain to walk into, but that protects the plants from deer somewhat. It seems that if selective cuts were done 12 to 15 years ago that was enough to start the smaller trees growing. This will be a learning experience I guess.

I have seen ginseng growing well in the shade of high weeds. -shrug- I think it all just depends

In the 1st part of the season My favorite hunting spot is old clear cuts and logging,You all know the ginseng that I dig evEry season.

This is free advice.

No better spot for big old ginseng.

Billy.

P.S.

And make sure that you go to them spots early soon as season opens because the seng tops die quickest there,

Billy.

Billy, so you say the tops dry out and the plant comes back next year? Do the leaves turn red from too much sun, or just dry?

Sometimes the leaves turn redish when sunburned, but that can also indicate a boron deficiency. Most commonly it will be sunburn...especially when mixed with yellow on the leaves.

Billy I agree I usually find my best ginseng in these places, but I dont know about this year because of how dry its been.