TOPIC: Slugs, moles, and rats.......

I started this growing season off with slugs. Fixed that problem. Then I had moles or voles, which ever and I fixed that problem. Now, either the rats or flying squirrels have ate ever seed off of every plant in my seed bed but one and they done it in 1 NIGHT!!!!!!! I may have screwed up but, I went a head and planted the remaining seeds even thou they were green. I figured they at least had A shot if they were in the ground.

Does anyone \"cage\" there seed plants?

It's no dang wonder no one can grow wild simulated ginseng for a living. Everything wants at it.

Once the plants have bloomed and seeds appear, you can dust the plants with Dragon Sevin Dust every week or so and it should keep most insects and pests at bay. For the rest, place aluminum pie pans (the kind you get in the Baking Section) with two on separate strings but hung together. Place the pie pans about every 30 yards or less around the perimeter of your' Ginseng beds or plots and they will usually keep deer, rabbits, squirrel and other Ginseng or Ginseng berry eating animals away.


Frank

That is the reason seed from operations other than commercial farming is non-existent on the commercial market. It is damn near impossible to save seed in a true woods growing situation.

Personally I always top my plants when the berries are green but full. I take them straight home and put the tops in mason jars with water and sit them where they can get some sun.Usually on a table by the window. The berries will ripen and I can save them. This keeps the fall poachers at bay and I keep my seed to replant. It takes me several trips to the patches because some plants are later than others and I am sure I loose some root growth but better than losing it all.

wise1, do you get good germination from these seeds doing it this way? Thats a good idea.

Welcome to the forum, Wise1.

Can you talk about your method this way for a bit/ Seed germaination success? how long doe ti take to get the seed to mature in the jars? How many seed to a jar? do you areate the water at all? Anything else you can think of?

Lenno's right, this seems like a good idea.

I just make several trips to my patches and look for plump berries,You can tell by looking that they have grown as much as they are going to.I remove these tops at ground level and put them in a plastic grocery bag being careful not to mangle them up. I get them home as soon as possible and put them in my spring water .I dont think it would be a good ideal to put them in city water,I don't have that anyway. I place them on a table near my window and wait.I put some in friday and have had 15 or so berries turn red,I just rotate them toward the light from the window.in a day or tow more will turn red.I have had plants on the table for as much as three weeks.Yes I do lose some,a few dry out a few dont turn red.I figure thats better than losing them all. As far as stratifying. I have learned to bury my seed where they is a good healthy ginseng patch.I don't dig it up til november. I float test and always have grinning seed. The location of where it is planted seems to make the big difference in getting three leafers to come up. I am sure my method is not the best but it works for me.I will try and post some pictures later. Also this may be illegal,actually it is in NC.I have been told. But Its my land ,I planted it ,I take care of it. I will not let the state cause me to lose my investment. I started planting sane with the ideal that I could put my kids through school What a fool I was.Ten years later and still I am ashamed to sell these roots most are so small.Maybe i can use it to help my grandkids.lol

Well if that is illeagel then it shouldnt be, you are doing a good thing by getting berries to plant instead of letting the critters get them. I still think that what we do with our plants on our land that we take care of has nothing to do with the government. We need seperate rules for our woodsgrown ginseng. Surely they can figure that out.

Hello Wise1,
I read your post about topping plants and helping the seed to go ahead and ripen out with much enthusiasm I had considered doing that to some plants a number of times, but I never did. Thanks for the first hand information. I also noticed that you seem to be having some problems with getting your roots to size out. You could very well have 10 times more experience than I do and I apologize if I sound haughty about some things that stood out in my mind that you might try, if you haven't already. If you think these things might not apply to your situation, I can understand.

Small root growth an be attributed to about 3 things normally. Most everyone on here has read this, but I'll list them in case some newer person might be able to use it. If you've had your soil tested you will know this already.

1: Low Phosphorous : Use a balanced fertilizer to bring the requirements in line.
2: Low calcium : Use Gypsum to amend the soil
3: Too much shade : This is rare and opening the woodland up may help.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Hugh

Hunter wrote:

I started this growing season off with slugs. Fixed that problem. Then I had moles or voles, which ever and I fixed that problem. Now, either the rats or flying squirrels have ate ever seed off of every plant in my seed bed but one and they done it in 1 NIGHT!!!!!!! I may have screwed up but, I went a head and planted the remaining seeds even thou they were green. I figured they at least had A shot if they were in the ground.

Does anyone \"cage\" there seed plants?

It's no dang wonder no one can grow wild simulated ginseng for a living. Everything wants at it.

What did you do to get rid of the moles?