Ginseng (Panax ginsengC.A. Meyer) is a potential new crop for New Zealand. Under artificial shade, 1‐year‐old seedlings were grown in either peat‐ or soil‐based media for 4 years. At the final harvest mean root fresh weight was 55 g/plant in the peat media and 40 g/plant in the soil media. Total ginsenoside % of the 5‐year‐old roots was up to 6.9%. Macrochemical content (N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca) and trace element (Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, B) content of roots at each harvest and of the leaves at the final harvest, were determined and compared with reported levels forP. ginsengand standards forP. quinquefolius. Botrytis cinereawas present on plant material throughout the experiment, and there was evidence of predation by the scarab larvae ofCostelytra novae‐zealandicain the first year. After 4 years of growth, 45% of the plants in the soil media and 63% of plants in the peat‐based media survived.