Ginseng Farm
At 41 South Tasmania we grow and develop products for both Korean and American ginseng.
Visitors to the salmon farm can view the ginseng and find out all about ginseng as well as sample a number of food and beverage products infused with ginseng.
What is Ginseng?
Ginseng is a slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the Panax genus. Typically it is grown in the cool climate areas of China, Korea and other parts of Eastern Asia. The English word ginseng derives from a Chinese meaning “man-root” referring to the valued root’s characteristic forked shape, resembling the legs of a man.
Ginseng has many traditional Chinese medicinal applications such as a nourishing stimulant, immune booster, muscle relaxant, an aphrodisiac and is also used in the treatment of type II diabetes and stress.
Typically the ginseng root is harvested when it is between 7 and 15 years of age. The goal is to grow organic, high potency and ideally shaped ginseng that is either sold fresh, sold dried or utilised as a natural additive in a range of foods, drinks, cosmetics and other uses.
The History of 41 south ginseng farm
The German born owners’ 41 South Tasmania Ziggy and Angelika Pyka had a long standing interest in ginseng and its myriad of medicinal properties. Whilst living in Western Australia Ziggy identified that the cool climate and soil types of Tasmania would be ideal for growing both Korean and American ginseng.
Convinced of the opportunity Ziggy and Angelika moved their family to Tasmania and made their first research and development planting in 1995, on a small farm in Westbury. Many years were spent clearing, building and experimenting with tree growth and mulching methods for our small but growing ginseng crop. It was done the hard way with little help or advice, as ginseng growing in Australia was at the time and still is very young industry.
In 2002, the Westbury farm was sold and all of the research and development crop was removed from the site and replanted on the salmon farm site in 2002.
In 2003 on the back of the success of the research and development crop Ziggy was confident that it was right to expand and established a ginseng nursery. The soil was prepared with raised beds for good drainage and posts were put in place. The beds were covered with shade cloth to keep the light of the ginseng plants.
Then by hand around 600 000 seeds were planted with a strike rate of around 90%, leaving 41 south Ginseng with over half a million 1 year old ginseng rootlets. After one year of growth the rootlets where hand harvested and transplanted onto a 5 acre grow out field.
In 2006 The first five acre grow out field was established in conjunction with external investors. It was established in much of the same way as the nursery, however on a much larger scale. Minor adjustments were made for ease of access. The five acre grow-out field took five months to develop and the one year old rootlings transplanted from the nursery have enjoyed a very successful strike rate of 95%.
Ginseng Products
Not content to simply sell fresh or dried ginseng, at 41 South Tasmania, we are developing a range of ginseng based products.
To view our product range, to find out more about them and to order please click here.
