How to grow ginseng for high yield? A detailed guide to the planting method

Ginseng is a fairly expensive and very rare medicinal herb, and the older the ginseng, the higher its medicinal and economic value. At present, wild ginseng resources are basically exhausted, and most of the ginseng on the market is cultivated ginseng, so ginseng of considerable age is rarely seen, and the yield of cultivated ginseng is not high, so even ginseng that is not very old is still very expensive. Today Qinnong wants to share with you the high-yield growing methods for ginseng. Let's take a look.

1. Land preparation and fertilization

The plot suitable for growing ginseng is preferably sandy soil with a complete drainage system, fertile soil, rich organic matter, close to a water source and located on high ground. The soil for growing ginseng needs to be deep-ploughed at least three times, with the clods broken up fine, and the soil must also be disinfected and sterilized. Then spread 4,000 jin of organic fertilizer evenly per mu, and finally make ridges and ditches according to the terrain of the planting site. Prepare the planting site with a ridge height of 30 cm, a width of 1.5 m, and a ditch width of 50 cm and a depth of about 30 cm. One more point is that this preparatory work must be completed about one month before sowing.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Because ginseng seeds are relatively precious, in order to increase the seedling emergence rate we generally pre-sprout the seeds in advance. If they are fresh seeds, we can sprout them directly, but if they are dry seeds, we first need to put them in warm water so they fully absorb water, then mix them evenly with fine moist sand, put them in a wooden box, and place it indoors for temperature control. First adjust the temperature to about 20°C, then lower the temperature, repeating the process until they sprout, and then sow around April of the following year. There are four sowing methods: broadcast sowing, drilling, dibbling and transplanting. The best planting density is about 150 plants per mu, sown at a plant spacing of 20 cm and a row spacing of 30 cm.

3. Building a shed frame

One of the more distinctive features of ginseng's growth is its demand for light. In the early stage of growth, ginseng does not need much light. If the light is too strong, the plants may very likely be scorched to death, so we need to build a shed. There are three ways to build the shed: the first is a fully closed shed that blocks both light and rain, the second is a semi-permeable shed that lets in a certain amount of light but not rain, and the third is a shed that lets in both light and rain. We generally use the third type of shed for management, and the shed height is generally about 80 to 1 m.

4. Scientific management

The main purpose of growing ginseng is to make its rhizome grow large, so we can promote its growth through intertillage and weeding as well as fertilization. Normally, intertillage and weeding should be carried out at least three to four times a year, and each time it can be done together with watering and fertilizing. Secondly, when ginseng blooms, we should remove some of the flower buds, which can reduce the consumption of nutrients. Also, when weeding, be careful not to touch its rhizome, as this will affect its growth. Finally, insulation treatment must be carried out every winter, because ginseng is a plant that is extremely afraid of cold, and this is generally done by covering it with a layer of straw or a layer of film.

5. Disease control

A major factor affecting ginseng yield is inadequate disease and pest control. Its most common diseases and pests include damping-off, black spot, phytophthora blight, anthracnose, rust, and so on. The most fundamental cause of these diseases is fungal infection triggered by high temperature and high humidity or low temperature and high humidity. Control methods include strengthening field management and doing good work in heat dissipation, insulation, and drainage. Secondly, spraying for control can be done with agents such as Likuteling, zineb wettable powder, and Bordeaux mixture, respectively.