TOPIC: double top plants

just curious about this, how many have double top plants? I have heard that this supposed to kind of rare, but have seen more on here about them. just wondering how many have the doubles pop up? I have close to 1000 plants, most are 3 leafs that sprouted this year from last years seed that didn't sprout. Was very happy to see them come up. Im into my third year growing and this is a first one for me. A three prong on one side and a two prong on the other. the plant is a two year old. is that rare for a two year old? two photos of it.

second photo, cant get more than one photo per page for some reason. I would also like to thank everyone on here that has helped me with info on the ginseng from hunting to growing. I have learned a heck of a lot from this site and the people who contribute the info on here. Thank you all !!

bryan,

While Ginseng plants with double tops are fairly rare, most seasoned Diggers have seen at least several or more during their digging career, while some others may have seen lots more! It would be hard to put a number on the occurrence but if I had to venture, I would say that it is close to 1 in 5,000 or possibly more. Some may feel or know that it is more or less (i.e. 1 in 3,000 or 1 in 10,000) and they are probably right, I just don't know. Now, my question is, are you sure that it is a double topped plant or did you unknowingly plant two seeds in the same hill and you actually have two plants growing out of the same hole? It would be easy enough to find out! You could gently dig down to the top of the root or roots and see if they are separate or joined.


Frank

Frank,
I know it is one root, I transplanted in the bed last fall. From what you have told me here it does seem to even more rare then I had thought. Thank you. This fall it will go into a better seed bed on a steep hill side that I have other plants, Virginia snakeroot, goldenseal and black cohosh growing on. They all seem to like it there and I have some other ginseng there also that does very well. I have pretty good luck so far and have not had problems with any diseases affecting any of my plants so far. I hope to keep having that kind of luck with them, but I know it cant last forever as far as that goes, can only keep hoping and wishing in that area. As for small creatures, well they like to munch on them. I think the cohosh keeps the deer away, I had read somewhere, don't remember where, that the deer don't like the cohosh and so far it seems to work. thanks for the info and happy growing!!

I agree it is pretty rare for wild ginseng. I dont think it is all that rare with cultivated ginseng and with seed from cultivated ginseng.

I think Frank is pretty close there. About 1 in 5000 seems about right. I\"ve seen them on seedlings, but more commonly older plants.

Likewise, is a four-leaf seedling. Those show up now and again also.

Honestly, around here, I find one in about every pound or two I dig. Usually one a year for the past several years anyways. It may just be this area or coincidence. I will agree they are far more frequent from cultivated stock though.

Hillhopper

I agree with Hillhopper. It's not that uncommon. I've seen a lot of plants with two tops.

rootman

rootman wrote:

I agree with Hillhopper. It's not that uncommon. I've seen a lot of plants with two tops.

rootman

I think it must vary somewhat by location. I can honestly say that i have only ever dug one wild plant with 2 tops around these parts.