TOPIC: The early ripening strain of ginseng

The time seems to have arrived for the early ripening strain to start coloring the berries. We've had a light drought here in East Tn. so I suppose it has hastened the ripening process somewhat. I have kept water on these plants so I don't believe they are under stress, but it sure has been hot. We've had low to mid 90s for days and days. I have some Wild Tn. plants almost beside the early strain and it's hard to believe they are just starting to bloom when the other is almost ripe. Take a look.

Another view.

And another.

This is what the Wild Tn. looks like now.

This one should be completely ripe in 14 days.

Wow that is really something Hugh. Those would be really helpful up here.

It would be interesting to see what this strain does in a Northern climate.

Hugh

Your TN examples look the same as mine over here in Middle TN.

You should do a test plot planting on those early ripening berries and see if they really do sprout and make 3 leafers next spring (without a stratification period).

That would be interesting.

TNhunter

TN,
The beds are ready right now for the seeds that I'll be picking in a couple of weeks. I've got some here at the house that are 3 years old and some in the mountains that I planted last year that are up. I was hoping that some of the 3 year olds would set some berries this Spring, but none of them did. I'll keep pictures of everything and place them on the board.

Hugh

This is what the normal ginseng from Wildgrown looks like.

Those are really ripening much faster than the others. Great pics Mr. Hugh, I belive you have the beginnings of an early ripening strain that are successfully reproducing. That could be huge for northern growers. I guess any grower. In a hot and dry conditions, they mature faster? Is that safe to say?