Finding ginseng

[cymoril99]

I need help I have been searching for ginseng but,can't seem to find it.I am hunting it on a 500 acre farm.I am going by pics from books,but I need some good tips on where to find it.Is it usually high on a hillside or lower. Does it grow near ferns or may apples. I know it is suppose to be on north or east facing slopes. How can I narrow down my search, it's pretty hot out there walking right now.Any help would be appreciated!....Thanks,Tina

[Swens]

I find most of my ginseng on very big (and steep) hills. I would mainly concentrate on shaded areas. (Fern beds are a great place to start)
For many reasons, the hills that haven't been logged in a while are best. Mainly, because they are easier to walk when it is hot and also because the plants don't get burnt off too soon by the sun. Staring from the basics, here are the things to look for as a beginner. This time of year most of the plants will be completely green. A good portion of the plants should have red berries on them as well. Ginseng is one of the only plants out there that has 3 branches coming off the main stem and each branch has 5 leaves on it. (Bigger plants can have an extra branch that will have 3-5 leaves on it). The thing that makes ginseng unique is that the 5 leaves on each branch come out of the same spot. If you are not having any luck on north or east facing hills right now it could be that the berries aren't red yet (which makes them harder to find because every plant out there is green). I would go over to a south facing hill and try there. If you don't have anyone to help you get started, you are better off just going out there and looking for red berries. I would take a few pictures of the plant with you and compare them to any plants that you find with red berries on. After you find one that you are sure is ginseng, I would keep the plant that you have and carry it with you to help find the next one. There are hundreds of tips that could be given, but unless you have someone to help you get started, that is about the easiest way to do it.
Also, it is easier to spot ginseng (most of the time) when you are walking uphill. A lot of the plants get top heavy from the berries and they tend to lean downhill.

Pics
[ame="http://www.themidwesthunter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=566"]Ginseng Photos - TheMidwestHunter.com Forums[/ame]

[thirdmillenium]

When I first started spotting ginseng I used a sort of mental checklist that becomes second nature after a few finds:

leaves serrated?
five leaves connected at same point?
the two leaves in the 5 leaf cluster closest to stem are significantly smaller (typically 1/3-1/2) than the other three leaves?
three or four 5-leaf cluster "prongs" originating from same point on main stem?
white very small flower cluster on separate "prong" (early in season)?
red berries on separate "prong" (later in season)?
Leaves also tend to turn yellow late in summer well before most other similar plants.

[Billy]

Very good advise

I find most of my ginseng on very big (and steep) hills. I would mainly concentrate on shaded areas. (Fern beds are a great place to start)
For many reasons, the hills that haven't been logged in a while are best. Mainly, because they are easier to walk when it is hot and also because the plants don't get burnt off too soon by the sun. Staring from the basics, here are the things to look for as a beginner. This time of year most of the plants will be completely green. A good portion of the plants should have red berries on them as well. Ginseng is one of the only plants out there that has 3 branches coming off the main stem and each branch has 5 leaves on it. (Bigger plants can have an extra branch that will have 3-5 leaves on it). The thing that makes ginseng unique is that the 5 leaves on each branch come out of the same spot. If you are not having any luck on north or east facing hills right now it could be that the berries aren't red yet (which makes them harder to find because every plant out there is green). I would go over to a south facing hill and try there. If you don't have anyone to help you get started, you are better off just going out there and looking for red berries. I would take a few pictures of the plant with you and compare them to any plants that you find with red berries on. After you find one that you are sure is ginseng, I would keep the plant that you have and carry it with you to help find the next one. There are hundreds of tips that could be given, but unless you have someone to help you get started, that is about the easiest way to do it.
Also, it is easier to spot ginseng (most of the time) when you are walking uphill. A lot of the plants get top heavy from the berries and they tend to lean downhill.

Pics
[ame="http://www.themidwesthunter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=566"]Ginseng Photos - TheMidwestHunter.com Forums[/ame]

[muggin]

I am in the idle spot but cant find any i go out every day help please:d