The root of the ginseng plant (Panax) has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes and is highly sought after. The American wild variety is classified among the endangered species and is often harvested and exported to Asia, where it yields several hundred euros per kilogram thanks to its high quality. Since the demand for this product is very high, the harvest of wild ginseng is regulated by state laws. It is important that this practice is sustainable, to ensure the long-term survival of ginseng. If you are planning to travel to the United States to harvest wild ginseng, this guide will be useful for you.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Find and Collect Ginseng
Step 1. Look for it in the appropriate season
Harvesting of this plant is regulated in 19 US states (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin), while it is restricted or prohibited in all others. All of these 19 states have established a collection period that runs from September 1st to November 30th. Plan for your harvest to take place between these dates.
- If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Agriculture or the relevant office for further details. You can also consult the Herbal Products Association website to find all regulatory references.
- Remember that in Canada it is illegal to harvest wild ginseng, which is classified as a threatened species in both Ontario and Quebec. The export of rhizomes is also prohibited in Canada.
Step 2. Go to the areas where the plant grows
Ginseng is native to the forests of North America, from the southern regions of Canada (Ontario and Québec) to southern Georgia and westward to South Dakota and Oklahoma. Typically, it grows in shady areas (on north and east facing slopes) of more humid forests. The more mature the forest (with large trees with thick and wide foliage that keep most of the bushes and brambles in the shade), the better the environment for ginseng to grow, because a dense undergrowth of small plants would leave the ginseng too much shade or would compete for nutrients.
- If you are interested in harvesting rhizomes in a certain area, check out a specific map to make sure wild ginseng grows there and thereby increase your chances of success.
- Remember that the right combination of shade and humidity creates the perfect environment for this plant to develop.
- Go to the forests where there are beech, maple, oak, lime and tulipier trees, as ginseng grows in the shade of these trees.
- If you start harvesting late in the season, you will have a harder time finding rhizomes.
- Look for areas where the ground is very dark, loose and covered with a layer of leaves.
Step 3. Look for symbiotic plants
An indicator of the possible growth of ginseng in your area of interest is the presence of "symbiotic plants". These benefit from the same ginseng-friendly habitat and often grow close to each other. Seeing these plants doesn't guarantee you'll also find ginseng, but it's still a good place to start.
- Symbiotic plants are trillium, canadian sanguinaria, actaea racemosa, blue cohosh, arisema with ternate leaves, wild yam, hydraste and Polygonatum.
- Poison ivy is not considered a symbiotic plant.
Step 4. Recognize ginseng
This plant has a single stem that ends in a spiral of 1-4 leaves (a single tip from which the leaves grow). Each leaf usually has 3-5 leaflets. If the plant is mature, you will see a cluster of whitish-green flowers that will eventually produce red berries.
- It's not easy to spot ginseng. However, once you have found the first plant, it will be easier to find others.
- Ginseng changes as it develops. If it is not ripe, you will notice a single stem with three leaflets in all; as it grows, each leaf will consist of 3-7 smaller leaflets. In an area where ginseng grows you can find several plants at different stages of ripeness.
- You can spot it both as a single plant and in small groups.
- It is worth looking at pictures of the plant before you go looking for it, or have an expert collector accompany you.
Step 5. Collect only the mature plants that produced the red berries
If you've been to a state where ginseng harvesting is allowed, only take those that have three or more branches. If there are a lot of mature plants in your area, leave a few so they can continue to reproduce, and don't touch any that are developing. You can protect them from other binders by removing the leaves of the plants themselves.
Make sure you use sustainable collection methods
Step 6. Dig carefully
When you come across a mature plant with more than three leaves (or 4, if you are in Illinois), dig gently to expose the roots without damaging them and without damaging the neck (the rhizome). Use a pitchfork or a very thin spade to dig under the plant, inserting the tool into the ground at a considerable distance (15 cm) from the ginseng.
- Be respectful of nearby plants and try not to disturb them. If the one you want to harvest is next to an immature ginseng plant, use smaller tools, such as a flat screwdriver about 20-25cm long, and work with great caution.
- If there is a risk of damaging the roots of adjacent immature plants, do not attempt to harvest ginseng.
- After extracting the root, crush the berries in the palm of your hand and interred the seeds to a depth of 2-3 cm where you picked the plant. Never take away seeds or immature plants from the woods.
Step 7. Wash and dry the root
When you get home, dip the roots briefly in a bucket of cold water to get rid of excess soil. Do not wash them under running water, neither under the tap nor with the garden hose. Also do not scrub them vigorously, as the buyer will appreciate some soil and the roots are very delicate. Finally, arrange them on a mesh panel or wooden rack in a single layer to allow them to dry.
- Make sure the roots are not touching each other and wait for them to dry in a well-ventilated room at a temperature between 21 and 38 ° C.
- Never dry the roots in the oven, in the microwave, in direct sunlight or behind a car window (for example by placing them on the parcel shelf).
- Check them from time to time as they dry. If you notice any mold or stains, change the temperature or air flow.
- When completely dried, the roots break into two pieces without difficulty.
- It will probably take 1-2 weeks to finish the drying process.
Method 2 of 2: Comply with Ginseng Laws and Regulations
Step 1. Obtain a license or permit if needed
Some states require the collector to have a permit for this activity. If you are harvesting ginseng on private property, ask the owner's permission before starting. Always carry the permit with you when you go to look for the plant, because you will have to show it to the authorities whenever you are asked.
Some National Forest Services issue the license allowing wild ginseng to be harvested, while others prohibit it. Check the laws and regulations in force in the state you are going to, to find out if you can dedicate yourself to this activity. In US national parks, the collection of wild ginseng is strictly prohibited
Step 2. Recognize mature plants
You are allowed to harvest only those that have reached maturity and are therefore at least 5 years old and 3-4 leaves. Also, you need to make sure they have red berries. You can also count the number of scars on the stem to determine the age of the plant.
- For each year of growth, a scar appears on the plant's neck. The one you collect should have at least 4 scars.
- To count the scars it is not necessary to uproot the plant, you just need to remove some soil from the neck of the rhizome.
- If the berries are still green, the plant is not ready to be harvested.
Step 3. Sell and export ginseng
You will need a business license for this business. If you plan to ship the rhizomes outside the state where you collected them, you need a certificate issued by this state. If you intend to export the roots outside the United States, then you must apply for a permit from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
International shipments are only allowed if you have collected the rhizomes in compliance with the law and only if the export does not endanger the survival of the American ginseng population
Step 4. Export ginseng internationally
In this case, you must submit an application to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. There is a module for multiple shipments and one for single shipments. In addition to the permit, you must have the documentation of the state in which you have collected the roots that certify that you have operated in a legal manner.
- When your application is approved, the Masterfile is created and you will get a set of individual permissions for each shipment.
- The application to export wild ginseng is valid for one year.
Advice
- Wild plants can take years to flower and bear fruit. The flowers produce berries, whose color changes from green to red when they ripen in autumn.
- Ginseng plants can live for 30-50 years; new leaves and branches grow, each with 3-5 leaflets (usually 5, but occasionally there may be even fewer); a mature plant can have a stem up to 50 cm high with 3-4 branches (rarely 5 or more).
Warnings
- To ensure the survival of the species (and to avoid a fine or arrest), always check the laws of the state you are going to collect; also documented on the regulations regarding the cultivation and sale of both wild and cultivated ginseng.
- Be very careful to avoid poaching collectors. The best defense against these individuals is secrecy. Make sure the crop is on your property, well hidden so it can't be disturbed. Don't talk about it more than necessary, only deal with trusted suppliers and customers. Be especially vigilant as the plants reach maturity. If you see any poachers, try to remove them or call the authorities to arrest them.
- Be careful when confronting potential crop thieves, avoid using force or violence to drive them away.
