Ginseng - "The Root of Life"

Ginseng is not only a beautiful but also a healthy plant.

Briefly about ginseng

Ginseng is a perennial herb from the aralia family.

More information about the plant

In folk medicine, ginseng stands out as a separate place, since it was previously believed that it is from all diseases. Scientists have conducted studies that have proven that he wears only tonics and can only maintain health, but not cure any serious problems. Ginseng is added to drugs for insomnia, fatigue, both mental and physical. It is also used for problems with the nervous system, for problems with blood vessels and blood. It helps well during colds. But it is important to understand that this is a folk remedy and it will not work to solve your problem at the root. It is better to see a doctor immediately and adhere to his instructions. However, you can consult and ask if it is possible to take ginseng in solving your problem.

Before using ginseng, as in medicinal, and simply, you need to figure out what it is in general. Ginseng is a perennial herb. Its roots are strong, branched. Each year, one bud is deposited from them and then it blooms into the stems. They can reach seventy centimeters. At the end of the stems are a pair of petals. Flowers are most often white. There are also fruits in the form of red berries. Seeds are white, oblong.

The best conditions for growth and development

Ginseng is best mashed in the south. There, the climate is most suitable for growing it in natural conditions. It is just as well rubbed in the mountains. Most often, they grow alone, in groups they can be found very rarely.

Ginseng is listed in the Red Book, since it grows naturally by itself very rarely. Most often, it is grown artificially in areas allocated for this under the conditions necessary for this. It is also grown in summer cottages for medical use, both in tea and for other purposes. Those who grow ginseng on their own need to remember one simple thing.

Ginseng does not grow quickly, it grows very slowly. In the first year of planting, only one petal will grow. In the second year, add a couple more petals. And only in the fifth year the plant will begin to reach seventy centimeters. The plant begins to develop normally in the third year, when it begins to bear fruit and give seeds. One plant is capable of producing about one hundred seeds per flowering.

Ginseng seeds are large enough. Their flowering takes so long also because when ginseng gives seeds in the fall, they are not quite ready for planting and for blooming this year. They mature and begin to bloom only in the second year after planting.

How to plant ginseng

As a rule, ginseng is planted in seedlings. It is better to do this in the fall, although it is possible in early spring. However, this will not be as effective. The plant may simply take root in this place and give not the same results as the seedlings planted in the fall. Ginseng seedlings are a two-year-old root. Don't be alarmed if your ginseng doesn't shoot aerial shoots. This happens because you have it damaged and for some time falls asleep in the ground for two years, although it may wake up faster. After this sleep, your ginseng will develop at its usual pace without any changes.

Appropriate place

The site for planting should be hidden from drafts and preferably near a water source. The ideal place will be where the slope will be, where the water will flow. Ginseng is very fond of moist soil. However, there are some nuances here. Ginseng does not like flooding and long stagnation of water in its area. As soon as its root system cannot cope with the large flow of water, ginseng begins to die. But also, because of its roots, which are not so deep and are not adapted to the use of water from the soil, ginseng needs frequent watering. Therefore, it must be watered and loosened the ground so that the water immediately enters the roots, and does not stagnate.

Ginseng is also picky about the earth itself, but not as much as water. He loves loose soil, not too acidic, full of minerals and free from weeds. Summer residents who want to be successful in growing ginseng prepare the soil in advance.

About a year before planting, they loosen it, fertilize it with manure and compost. Since ginseng loves organic and natural fertilizers. You can add minerals, as it was said above that ginseng loves soil filled with minerals. It is also better to do without nitrogen fertilizers, since ginseng reacts very badly to an increased content of nitrates in the ground and just as poorly tolerates or does not tolerate a large concentration of soil solution at all. Also, from a large amount of nitrogen, the plant can kill not only the nitrogen itself, but also the disease.

Small amounts of sand are added to the soil to keep the land at normal levels for ginseng. I would like to add that ginseng is a shade-loving plant and the sawing sun is not his friend at all. He needs a very soft and rare sun. This is such a plant that it is better to stay in full shade than the floor in the direct rays of the spoiling sun.

In early September, we need to plant our future healing salvation, for this they make beds with a decent gap between each other. The width between them should be about a little less than a meter. The soil is loosened and equalized so that there are no bumps. Sometimes summer residents prepare the beds for planting using artificially made soil mixtures. With the help of boards, a structure is made thirty centimeters high, and all this space is filled with this mixture.

If planted with seeds

Stratified seeds are planted at the end of April. To do this, the seeds are mixed with sand and kept at a temperature of twenty degrees. This mixture should be kept like this for five months, they are also moistened and sometimes allowed to air, removing seeds that have deteriorated. At this time, they ripen for planting and at the end of stratification, the seeds should open slightly. After the seeds have passed the paced stage, they will have a cold stage. Mixing them with sand again, they are immersed in a cool place, where they should lie for about three months. The temperature should be kept at about five degrees.

At the very end there will be a stage where the temperature must be lowered to zero degrees. Immediately before planting, the seeds are separated from the sand and give them time to ventilate outside, but only in the shade. If you started stratification at the end of August, then they will be ready in May next year. Long, but effective. Just like all other seeds, they are placed in holes and buried. It is watered moderately and in twenty days the first shoots will sprout.

If you have just collected the seeds, then they should be planted in September. They are planted in the same way as all seeds. In the second year, as you planted them, there will already be a result. When the snow falls, the seeds are covered with foliage, which will act as protection from frost.

If planted with roots

Planting two-year roots should be done at the end of September. It is recommended to dig out such roots only before planting, as soon as all the leaves have fallen off. This must be done carefully, without damaging a single root, nothing.

Vegetation period

The growing season begins in late April, blooms in June and bears fruit in late August. To prevent ginseng from freezing and dying in winter, it is covered with either foliage or sawdust. Because practice shows that ginseng can freeze and this can slow down its development. However, the plant tolerates temperature extremes worst of all. When at first it freezes sharply, then it all melts. After all, this is stagnation of water, which, as mentioned above, has a bad effect on the roots of ginseng and it can die. In the spring, all this insulation is removed, it is definitely impossible to delay with this point. And the first loosening must be done before our kidneys wake up after winter. The first loosening should be done carefully and superficially. This is necessary so that the ginseng begins to breathe and wakes up after hibernation.

What should be watering

Watering should be moderate. On dry days, during flowering, this should be done every day, not much. It is necessary to water, taking into account that the roots will have time to absorb how much you watered.

Pruning rules

In the fall, the upper part of the plant is cut off. In August, seeds are harvested, when the fruits turn bright red. First comes the separation of seeds from fruits. Then they are washed and already separated completely from the pulp. It is worth separating seeds that do not look healthy, because they will still not be able to germinate. Then the seeds must be dried so that excess moisture is glass from them. However, it is not worth overdrying, as this reduces the chances of climbing later when landing. So that after drying there are no problems with this, they must be placed in a place with slightly damp sand.

The likelihood of disease and insect pests

Before planting, the roots should be processed if you do not want to face diseases and pests. For this we need a solution of Bordeaux liquid and ten minutes of your time. At this time, the roots are immersed in this solution. This liquid can also be used during the growing season. About eight sprays will be sufficient. You can also treat all ginseng, all leaves and umbrellas, and even fruits with fungiside. If your plant has picked up a black leg, then it must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate about three times within ten days. Also, when attacking insects like aphids and caterpillars, pyrethrum helps well. Other insects can be caught with potato bait. Medvedok can only be destroyed with baits hidden in the ground at a depth of three centimeters. The larvae must be harvested by ourselves, by catching them by hand. Only special traps or poisoned food are suitable for mice. Slugs can only be killed with baits.