Beds should not be elevated on steeper slopes where serious erosion could occur. Beds are then covered with one to two inches of leaf mulch or clean straw. Fresh or stratified seeds and seedlings preferably should be planted in the fall after disinfecting all stock purchased from large commercial sources. Organic and chemical fertilizers enhance plant growth, but the more they are used, the more the roots will resemble the lower valued field-grown ginseng. Cover beds annually in the fall with leaf mulch or clean straw.
Growers recommend weeding beds routinely, removing flowers as desired and applying pesticides.
Plants heavily infected with Alternaria may be removed, soaked in maneb solution and planted away from the main site. Additionally, insecticides may be needed to control lygus bug, white fly, aphid, leaf beetle and other insects. Growers variously recommend the organophosphate malathion or the plant- derived biodegradable pyrethrum or rotenone. Since pesticides don't affect some diseases of ginseng, diseased-appearing plants should be removed and destroyed as soon as they are observed. Use of pesticides should be minimal during the final year of growth before harvesting.