TOPIC: Patch 3

You can see the height of the Rhodo in these pics, given that there's two guys in amongst it. This one is a bit fuzzy, however you get the idea...

Attack! the Rhodo fought back, however we prevailed!

Tools of the trade. there were 7 of us working that day. We cleared this acre in 8 hours. I was \"saw King\" and kept the saws running, also was the soils samples gatherer, and the seaweed derivative sprayer, when I wasn't keeping saws running.

This is me, a dirrrttty self portrait taken during the course of the day. All of us involved got a healthy dose of dirt on us that day. this was in late September.

Just last weekend, we put in 6 pounds of seed. That's it in the bag there.

This is a panoramic shot of the entire patch, taken from the Left side. It's three photos joined together by my Olympus camera. I'm standing in the middle of the patch, wishing I had one leg shorter than the other, as it's steep here. So, from the far left of the photo is the top on patch 3, and the far right of the photo is the bottom. we cleared about an acre.

As I wrote earlier, we came back and planted las weekend. Much, much colder then. I'm planting and that's Klaus supervising. He has to make sure I'm doin' it right! [LOL] this view is looking up the towards the top of the patch.

Whitjr,

Great pics and great job you all did to clear the Rhododendron out to make way for the Ginseng! Kudos on a job well done!

I have a couple of questions: Isn't Rhododendron and/or the plant's leaves very acidic? If so, have you or are you planning on an application to counteract the acidity and what will you use? I ask because I know of many locations in the mountains with Rhododendron where I could hopefully plant and conceal Ginseng from poachers. One such location is ideal with large breaks in the Rhododendron, faces mainly West through North, has several wet springs running through and adjacent to it and I found some very healthy Ginseng plants in the next hollow over from it.


Frank

Thank you Frank- to answer your Q's... the average soil pH is around 4.0, and to adjust that upwards to a 'sang-friendly number I use this... Initially a granulated lime, then a seaweed derivative spray. The Ca is also very very low, and that I boost with granulated gypsum.

We do not use fertilizers or herbicides, unless you consider a chainsaw a herbicide.

Whitjr wrote:

Thank you Frank- to answer your Q's... the average soil pH is around 4.0, and to adjust that upwards to a 'sang-friendly number I use this... Initially a granulated lime, then a seaweed derivative spray. The Ca is also very very low, and that I boost with granulated gypsum.

Whitjr... Thanks for the info! It will come in handy if I get around to planting seeds in the Rhododendron patches I mentioned.

Whitjr wrote:

We do not use fertilizers or herbicides, unless you consider a chainsaw a herbicide.

If you commit the murder of Rhododendron with a chainsaw, does that make you a Herbicidal Maniac? LOL!!


Frank