How to Hunt for Wild Ginseng

How to Hunt for Wild Ginseng

Hunting for wild ginseng is a fun and exciting way to get in touch with nature as well as add to your herbal apothecary. But it's important to remember that wild ginseng is rare and picking the wrong roots can cause damage to endangered populations. To get the most out of your hunt and reduce your impacts on the species, follow these steps.

• Learn the best time for harvesting ginseng. Wild ginseng can generally be harvested in late summer and early fall.
• Identify an area with high active populations of ginseng. To do this, you can look for mature plants flowering in the fall or look for trails in the shape of a star.
• Know state laws governing the harvesting of wild ginseng.
• Walk through your chosen area looking for signs of ginseng. These signs include a cluster of red berries and a spreading root pattern within a radius of about two feet.
• Hand-pick and dig the plant. A shovel or trowel should do the job. Be sure to keep your digging to a minimum and refill the hole after.
• Store and dry the roots. Clean off any dirt, rinse with cold water, and either let air dry or oven dry at a low heat.
• Enjoy your ginseng!

How to Hunt for Wild Ginseng

If you’re looking to forage for ginseng on your own, there are special techniques that you should use to locate, identify, and harvest the wild herb. Here is a guide on how to hunt for wild ginseng:

Step 1: Know Where to Look

Ginseng is native to North America, and can be found in both deciduous and coniferous forests, most commonly in well-drained, shady areas. Ginseng tends to grow in certain types of soil—clay-rich, acidic, and low in lime and nitrogen—so make sure you check the soil quality in your target area. Pay extra attention to creek banks, slopes, ditches, and other areas where soil or debris has been moved or disarranged.,/p>

Step 2: Identify Ginseng Plants

Ginseng plants typically bloom in the months of July and August, and can be easily identified by their distinctive three or four leaves that look like a trifoliate compound pattern with leaflets directly opposite each other. During the fall, the leaves turn yellow or red and start to die off. The plant also produces red berries that contain two or three seeds.

Step 3: Use the Right Tools

To ensure that you're harvesting ginseng plants properly, use a small shovel, spade, or even a garden trowel to gently cultivate the area of soil around the plant. Be very cautious not to damage the plant’s roots, as they will not regrow. After you have gently removed the soil, carefully take the plant and its roots out of the ground.

Step 4: Prepare to Replant

Replanting is essential to the preservation of wild ginseng. Ginseng can take several years to mature, so it’s important to return the plants you harvest back into the wild. Make sure to put them in the exact or similar spot in which you found them. Additionally, you can scatter the berries around the area so more ginseng plants can grow.