Ginseng Production Workshop
November 6 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
prefixLearn about wild-simulated ginseng
Wilkes County Extension will hold a free Ginseng Production Workshop Nov. 6, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern at the Wilkes County Agricultural Center, 416 Executive Drive in Wilkesboro. Jim Hamilton will provide instruction and field demonstrations. The announced subjects include forest sites, fertility, planting, production problems and marketing. Advance registration is required, and space is limited.
Consider a long production timeline
The announcement describes an eight- to 10-year period for roots to reach the size preferred by major export markets. That timeline makes the early evaluation of a proposed planting particularly important. Suggested preparation includes identifying the decision you need to make about your woodland and the information a local adviser would need to assess it. A course can help you ask better questions without establishing that a particular property or business plan is suitable.
Questions to investigate
Write down what you know about the proposed site and what remains uncertain. Ask how to evaluate conditions, find dependable planting information and document a small trial if an adviser recommends one. Include questions about labor, protecting the planting and the records a future business would need. These are preparation suggestions, not additional announced curriculum. Do not treat a quoted market price or another grower’s experience as a guaranteed future return. Ask the appropriate agencies about current requirements before planning harvest or sales.
Register and check optional purchases
Books and seed will be available for purchase, with limited quantities offered first-come, first-served. Free attendance does not mean those materials are included. Contact Matthew Clay at 336-651-7333 or mhclay@ncsu.edu about registration, accessibility and any instructions for the field component. Do not bring samples or assume a supply requirement unless the organizer requests it. Keep notes on resources you want to consult afterward. Use the official announcement and registration page for current availability and schedule changes before traveling to Wilkesboro. If you later research a small trial, record the question it is intended to answer before selecting material or committing space.
