Agronomy in North America Commercial ginseng is mainly produced in intensive production systems. Intensive management results in a crop that can be harvested in three years. Some other systems which take much longer to mature include wild crafting, which involves harvesting wild ginseng from the woods, and wild-simulated production, where ginseng is cultivated in the woods using a low input system to produce roots resembling wild ginseng. Before seed sowing, a cover crop, along with animal manure, may be incorporated into the soil to improve its structure and water-holding capacity. Often the soil is fumigated with vorlex, basamid or methyl bromide.
Tile drainage is laid, and raised beds are formed to help improve the drainage.
Support structures for shade are also usually put in place before sowing. Little work has been carried out on optimum fertiliser applications and, as a result, fertiliser use varies considerably throughout the industry. Ginseng has been found growing in soils that have a pH range from 4.8 to 7.4, however, lime or gypsum is usually added to low pH soils to get a pH of between 5.5 and 6.0. Crop management during the growing period includes the application of additional mulch and placement of shade in the spring. During the season, the crop is continually monitored for disease and is sprayed often.