Content

• Steps
• Advice
• What you need

Growing ginger is not too difficult and worth doing. After planting, just water and wait patiently for the ginger plant to produce bulbs with attractive flavors. The following article applies to edible ginger, but you can also apply to flower ginger.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Growing ginger

1. 

   Start planting in early spring. Ginger is a tropical plant that cannot tolerate the cold. Planting is recommended from the end of the spring frost or early rainy season if you live in a tropical area. If you live in a climate with a short growing season, you can grow plants indoors.

2. 

   
   
   Choose a ginger plant. Currently there are many types of ginger. To grow ginger that is popular in food Zingiber officinaleYou just need to buy ginger root at the grocery store. Ornamental ginger varieties with colorful flowers are often grown in nurseries but they are often inedible.
   • Choose a root that is full and free of folds, with many small eyes on the head. Alternatively, you can choose a ginger root that is sprouting.
   • Buy organic ginger if possible. Inorganic ginger can be treated with growth inhibitors. Some gardeners find that soaking ginger root in warm water overnight helps to stimulate sprouting.
   • This article covers tree varieties Zingiber officinale. Most varieties Zingiber will all grow under similar conditions, but you should follow the nursery instructions for best results.

3. 

   
   
   Slice the ginger root into pieces (optional). If you want to grow more plants, you can use a sterile knife or scissors to cut the root ginger into pieces. Each piece at least 2.5 cm wide contains one or more eyes for plant growth. After slicing, store the piece of ginger in a dry place for a few days to recover. A layer will form on the cut that protects against infection.
   • Each piece of ginger should be 20 cm apart. You can save space by cutting into larger chunks of ginger.
   • A piece of ginger with three or more eyes will be easier to sprout.

4. 

   
   
   Prepare the land. Ginger thrives in fertile and well-drained soil. Mix equal amounts of garden soil with compost. If the soil is nutrient poor or has a lot of clay, you should buy high quality planting soil instead.
   • If you want to monitor ginger growth, prepare a tray with water moss or coir. This material drains well, helping to avoid root rot. You will need to transfer the root to the soil after the leaves and roots have grown, and this can affect the plant. The ideal temperature for rooting ginger is 21 degrees Celsius, so it's a good idea to use a heating pad or other heat source to maintain the right soil temperature.
   • Like other garden plants, ginger is suitable for lightly acidic soils. If the soil is acidic, use a pH kit to adjust the pH between 6.1 and 6.5.

5. 

   Select a location. Ginger is suitable for growing in semi-shady areas or with only morning sunlight, away from large roots. The planting site should be protected from wind and rain, but not too muddy. If the ginger has not yet sprouted, the soil temperature should be warm, ideally between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius.
   • If you are planting ginger in a pot, choose a pot at least 30 cm deep. Plastic pots are better than ceramic pots, as long as you make lots of holes to drain the water.
   • Ginger can grow in complete shady conditions in tropical regions, but in other regions the temperature may not be warm enough. You should grow ginger in a location that receives direct sunlight for two to five hours a day.

6. 

   Planting ginger. Place a piece of ginger 5 to 10 cm deep into the ground, with the buds facing up. If planting in rows, you should place them at a distance of 20 cm. If using a pot, place each piece of ginger in a large pot (35 cm diameter). advertisement

Part 2 of 2: Taking care of growing ginger

1. 

   Maintain soil moisture. Water a little water right after planting. Check the soil daily and water it right before it dries out completely. Soggy soil will quickly rot plants, so reduce watering or improve drainage in case the water does not drain quickly.

2. 

   Wait for germination. Ginger grows at a slow rate, especially in the out-tropics. If you're lucky, the roots will begin to show up within a few days, but you need to keep watering for a few weeks even if you haven't seen the ginger sprout yet.
   • Use the same watering method after germination.

3. 

   Apply fertilizer monthly (optional). You do not need to fertilize if you are growing ginger in fertile soil, especially if mixed with humus. Check the soil first and then apply fertilizer accordingly. If the soil is nutrient deficient or wants to improve quality, you can apply a small amount of liquid fertilizer every month.

4. 

   Plant ginger outdoors (optional). After the root ginger root, the mulch works to keep warm and prevent weeds from affecting the slow growing ginger plant. You need to prepare a thick deposit if the soil temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius during the growing season.

5. 

   Let the soil dry when the stem dies. The stalks of the ginger plant will start to turn yellow in late summer or early autumn as temperatures drop. Reduce watering during this time, and stop watering completely after the stalk dies.
   • The ginger plant may not bloom for the first year or two after planting, or if the growing season ends early.

6. 

   Let the plant fully develop before harvesting. Ginger tastes richer if grown in soil. After the stalk dies, and after at least 8 months of planting, you can dig up the root. You can cut a portion for cooking without killing the plant if you leave a little bud.
   • Young ginger is sometimes harvested 3-4 months after it is used for vinegar. You need to carefully harvest young ginger as its skin is thin and easy to bruise.
   • Use a sterile knife to cut the ginger plant.

7. 

   Prepare for the cold season. If you don't live in the tropics, you should bring the ginger plant indoors during the winter. Store the plant in a warm, dry place. If you are planting your ginger plant outdoors, cover it with thick mulch when the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius. Ginger is a perennial plant in warm conditions, but cannot tolerate cold weather. advertisement

Advice

• Ginger is susceptible to pests and diseases, especially if over-watered. You should consult your pest control at a nursery or university farm.
• Zingiber officinale from 0.6 to 0.9 meters high. Some varieties of flower ginger can grow taller.

What you need

• Ginger
• Scissors or knife
• Fertile soil
• Compost or fertilizer
• Plastic pots (option)
• Water moss (option)