The importance of good crop research is demonstrated by this story of Ginseng.
Ginseng is a slow-maturing woodland plant native to Asia and North America. It is known as an Asian medicinal plant and helps to restore the balance in the pituitary gland which, in turn helps the body’s system to cure itself.
Generally, ginseng grown on the forest floor in 80% shade conditions is more medicinally potent than that from intensive field production and gets a very significant premium in the marketplace - $1000 per kg versus $30 per kg. The Americans have planted large areas of ginseng, but under artificial shade structures and their crops don’t attract the premiums of naturally grown ginseng under forest.
Ginseng requires;
- 80–90% density shade, either artificial or natural;
- a nitrogen-poor soil, which can range in structure from sandy to heavy clayey loam;
- an acid soil with pH between 4.5 and 7;
- and a climate with four distinct seasons to encourage the plants to progress through their cycle in order to reach maturity.
- A cold winter is required for stimulation of the root to encourage the following year’s growth.
A good rule of thumb is, ‘grow ginseng with apples, not with bananas’. While the plants can survive hot summer days, they do not cope well with high humidity. Tropical or sub-tropical climates are not suitable.
Ginseng is not a heavy drinker but requires a well-drained soil, which needs to be kept moist and cool. If required, ground-level drip irrigation is better than overhead systems. Normally unproductive steep slopes and/or forest floor areas where shade is so dense little else grows, can be quite suitable. Easterly or southerly aspects are generally preferable to north- or west-facing land. Beds should be raised to ensure good drainage.
New Zealanders and Australians have become interested in the Ginseng crop, but realise with the seven years until crop maturity when the roots of the plant get that gnarled look sought by the market, that there was no profit in growing it under shade cloth when the premiums were being paid for naturally grown ginseng under forest.
In a bit of inspired thinking, the New Zealanders realised that the pine plantations planted in many parts of New Zealand had the ideal shade conditions for growing ginseng from canopy closure at year 10 until year 17 when the trees would compete for nutrients and moisture. Farmers started planting ginseng under their pine trees and marketing the product as “naturally grown” getting the significant premiums for these grades. Attention to pest control was an important issue that arose as possums and rats developed a strong liking for the plant.
Graeme and Robyn Young run 3000 sheep and 80 cattle on their 260 ha property near Pukerau in Southland. They’d been looking around for diversification options - something novel to provide a bit of a change and perhaps an alternative source of income.
“There’s an avenue of old macrocarpa trees where the old homestead once stood, and I’ve stored hay there for years” said Graeme. “With the heavy shade from the trees and the rich organic litter on the ground, I figured it was a natural spot for ginseng.” Robyn had a long-standing interest in alternative therapies and novel crops, and the Youngs have often taked about growing ginseng but were catalysed by attending a Ginseng seminar.
Trial plantings are showing promise, once the weeds germinated by the cultivation were brought under control, and now the Youngs are looking at planting a much larger area in a new pine plantation, based on their initial experiences.
