TOPIC: Virgin grower growing

I agree brad, iv seen the same. I dug a five prong last year in what you would have mistaken for potting soil. The root definately had a wild look but was suprisengly small (big disappointment). I can't say for sure my theory is correct. At this point, its speculation with a little basis on how my roots look so far. In a few more years ill know for certain. But, you know as well as I do that you don't want them too big. Large seven to ten year roots will bring a wholesale lot's price down. I know Koreans like them but a one ounce 7 or 8 year root is too much. I guess my thoughts are not to try and push their growth but to not leave them struggling for nutrition either. We'll see how it plays out in a few more years.

Hillhopper

I for one am not in favor of removing the flower stems for my ginseng patches. I like seeing the red seeds and replanting them. I didn't see it mentioned that the flower stems are worth a lot of money or perhaps I missed it. I have read that these flower stems are loaded with ginsenosides.
Latt

Latt wrote:

I for one am not in favor of removing the flower stems for my ginseng patches. I like seeing the red seeds and replanting them. I didn't see it mentioned that the flower stems are worth a lot of money or perhaps I missed it. I have read that these flower stems are loaded with ginsenosides.
Latt

Latt,

As far as I have been able to find out, very few if any of the Ginseng/Herb Dealers buy the tops and stems anymore as it seems the market has dropped off for these. However, since I believe that it is just the Ginseng root that is being regulated (someone please correct me if I am wrong), I believe that most if not all Herb Stores will purchase any and all tops and stems that you bring to them. You will just have to negotiate the price when selling, since there is no real market for them on which to determine a price! Just make sure to keep the tops and stems green, as that is how they like them when they purchase them.


Frank

Frank-

When you sell tops and leaves, those are only sold as gree? I guess that means that I will need to get to a dealer that wants these within a few hours of picking them... would you recommend perhaps freezing or otherwise refridging them?

Whitjr wrote:

Frank-

When you sell tops and leaves, those are only sold as gree? I guess that means that I will need to get to a dealer that wants these within a few hours of picking them... would you recommend perhaps freezing or otherwise refridging them?

Whitjr,

Sorry I did not respond sooner but did not see your post until now!

It has been a long time since I stored and sold any Ginseng tops but if my memory serves me well, I did the following. First, is the problem of getting them from the woods and to the house without damaging them. Second, wash the tops and stems, then cleanly cut the stems just above where they were broken off (i.e. just like would cut Roses), and place the stems of the tops into a plastic sandwich bag with a little water, making sure to tie off the bag to prevent leakage. Place the tops with stems in the Crisper Drawer of the fridge and they will usually keep for a week or more. (Note: Just like me, you might have to trim the stems on the bigger tops, so that they will fit in the Crisper Drawer. Also, you don't have to but I placed the tops and stems loosely into plastic Walmart bags to help retain the moisture in the sandwich bags and to prevent leakage into the Crisper Drawer.) That is how I did it the last time I stored and then sold some tops and stems from some Ginseng I harvested back in (I believe) 1997. Note: Make sure to check the stored tops and stems every day or two for any wilted, wet looking (decomposing) leaves and remove them, otherwise the decomposing leaves will cause surrounding leaves to decompose as well. The stored tops and stems (80 to 90) were sold with some fresher tops that I had dug a day or two prior to selling them. I had called all of the Ginseng Dealers nearby back then and they were no longer purchasing the tops and stems, so I began calling the Herb stores and finally found a buyer. I did not know what to charge them or have a means to weigh the tops and stems. However, after showing them the 150+ tops including a 6 pronger, we agreed upon a price of $30 or $50 (I can no longer remember which) and we both came away happy!


Frank

Interesting info fellas on plant tops. Back in the late 70's the fella I used to sell to had stacks upon stacks of green colored ginseng plant tops that were dried. He said he bought plant tops that were dried properly. I have dried many plant tops in my day for my own personal use for making tea. If you take a plant top and dry it it will dry the same color that it is when you picked it. Green plant tops dry green. Yellow plant tops dry yellow and so on.
Latt

I am sure that you can dry and sell them that way or even green. I believe that when the Ginseng Dealers were buying them, they wanted them dry. At the time, I did not know how to dry them as I had never tried and it was a good thing because the Herb Store wanted them green!


Frank

Frank- thanks for your input there.

Latt- last year, I cut a bunch of tops before they went down, made tea some, and also added them to salads. While spicy-tasting [the leaves only] with enough salad dressing, it was good.