hickster,
I would never cut back leaves or the plant top as it would deter your root growth and ruin seed production. Many say to remove the plant top after the berries drop so hunters will not find your seng once the leaves turn yellow. I think an experienced seng hunter can find your seng regardless if the leaves are green or yellow.
Another thing is this, Seng is like a tree in the sense that the plant juice flows up and down the stalk at different times of the year. Just like a tree, in the spring the juices flow from the root to the plant top. In the fall the juice flows the other direction from the plant top back down to the root.
Also the seng root spends a lot of it's stored energy to produce a stem and plant top.
I want my seng to have the benefit of having the good stuff flow back down into the seng roots. I think it makes them more healthy to endure stressful conditions and possibly grow larger with more potency.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Glad to hear your seng is doing well.
Latt
