Growing ginger yourself is a very easy and useful thing. After planting ginger, you don't need to do anything except water and be patient to wait for the ginger to be ready to be enjoyed as a delicious spicy dish. The guide in this article focuses on the edible types of ginger, but most ornamental ginger plants can also grow well under the same conditions.
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Part 1 of 2: Growing Ginger
Step 1. Start early in the rainy season
Ginger is a tropical plant that is not resistant to frost (frost). If you live in a country with four seasons, plant ginger after the frost is over, or at the start of the rainy season if you live in the tropics. If you live in an area with a short growing season, grow ginger indoors.
Step 2. Select the desired ginger variety
Ginger has many species. The edible and most commonly grown variety is zingiber officinale. Buy this ginger at the grocery store. If you want to grow ornamental ginger with vibrant flowers, get the seeds at a seed shop. However, this ginger is usually not edible.
- Choose ginger tubers (technically these are rhizomes) that are plump and unwrinkled, which have "eyes" (small dots) at the ends of the branches. "Eyes" that are starting to turn green are ideal seeds, but not a must.
- If possible, buy organic ginger. Inorganic ginger may have been given a growth inhibitor. Some planters usually soak ginger in warm water overnight to help stimulate plants that have been given the inhibitor.
- This guide focuses on the zingiber officinale. Most species of zingiber can grow in the same conditions, but for best results follow the directions from the nursery.
Step 3. Cut the rhizome into pieces (optional)
If you want to grow multiple plants, cut the ginger with sterilized scissors or a knife. Any cutting that is at least 3 centimeters long with one or more eyes can grow into a separate plant. After cutting it, place the ginger piece in a dry place for a few days to allow it to heal. A protective callus will form on the cut surface of the ginger cut, which will reduce the risk of infection.
- Each piece of ginger takes 20 centimeters of space. Use large pieces if you want to save space.
- Cuts with 3 or more eyes have a greater chance of growing.
Step 4. Prepare the soil
Ginger will thrive in high quality growing media with good drainage. You can get a good growing medium by mixing garden soil and compost in equal proportions. If the soil is of poor quality or contains a lot of clay, buy a ready-made planting medium to replace it.
- If you want to take ginger more seriously, start by preparing a nursery tray filled with sphagnum moss or coconut coir fiber. Both of these materials can drain water very well so as to prevent rotting of young plants. You should transfer the ginger into the soil once the roots and leaves have formed (which can traumatize the plant). The ideal temperature for growing ginger is 21 degrees Celsius. So maybe you should use mulch or a heat source to maintain the ideal temperature.
- Like other garden plants, ginger likes slightly acidic soil. If the soil where you live is alkaline, change the soil to slightly acidic with a pH between 6.1 and 6.5 using a soil pH control product that can be purchased at a farm store.
Step 5. Determine the planting location
Ginger likes partial shade or an area that gets only morning sun, away from the large tubers. The planting site should be protected from moisture and drafts, but not swampy. If the ginger hasn't sprouted yet, the soil should be warm, ideally at 22–25º C.
- If planted in a pot, use a pot with a depth of at least 30 cm. Plastic pots are better than clay pots, as long as you make drainage holes in the bottom.
- Ginger can grow in full shade in the tropics, but locations like these may be too cold if ginger is grown elsewhere. Try to plant ginger in a location that is exposed to direct sunlight for 2-5 hours a day.
Step 6. Plant the ginger
Plant each piece of ginger 5 to 10 cm deep in loose soil, with the buds on top. If planted in a row, space each cut 20 centimeters. If using a pot, plant each cutting in a large pot (about 35 cm in diameter).
Part 2 of 2: Caring for Grown Ginger
Step 1. Keep the soil moist
Water it lightly after you plant it. Check the planting medium daily and water before the soil is completely dry. Soil that is too wet can damage plants quickly. So you may need to reduce watering or improve drainage if the water doesn't drain quickly.
Step 2. Watch for shoots to come out
Ginger grows slowly, especially when grown in non-tropical areas. Shoots may appear within a few days if you are lucky. Continue to water for at least a few weeks before you give up because the ginger isn't growing.
Keep doing the same watering method after the ginger sprouts
Step 3. Fertilize ginger every month (optional)
Ginger does not need to be fertilized if it is grown in fertile soil, especially if you have added compost. First test the soil and apply fertilizer as needed. If the soil is not fertile or you want to increase crop yields, apply a complete liquid fertilizer every month.
Step 4. Use mulch if ginger is grown outdoors (optional)
Once the ginger has started to grow, mulching can keep the soil warm and prevent weeds from growing (which can compete with slow growing ginger). You should apply a thick layer of mulch if the soil temperature is below 10º C while the ginger is growing.
Step 5. Let the soil dry when the ginger stems start to die
If you live in a country with 4 seasons, ginger stems will turn yellow in late summer or early fall, when the temperature drops. Reduce watering when this happens, and stop watering completely once the stems die.
Ginger plants may not flower the first year or two after planting, or if the growing season in your area is short
Step 6. Let the plants mature before you harvest them
Ginger will have a very strong taste if allowed to develop in the soil. After the stems die, and at least 8 months after planting, dig up the ginger rhizomes. The plant won't die if you cut it partially off for cooking, as long as there are still buds left.
- Young ginger is sometimes harvested within 3 to 4 months after planting, which is usually used for pickling. You have to be careful when harvesting young ginger because the skin is thin and bruises easily.
- Use a sterile knife to cut the ginger root.
Step 7. Prepare for cold weather
If you don't live in the tropics, keep ginger indoors in winter. Store ginger plants in a dry and warm place. If the ginger remains outdoors, cover the plant with thick mulch if the temperature drops below 10º C. Ginger is a perennial native to warm climates, and usually does not tolerate frost.
Tips
- Ginger is susceptible to pests and diseases, especially when watered excessively. The best way to deal with local pests is to seek advice from the nearest plant nursery or agricultural research center at the university.
- Zingiber officinale can grow to a height of half to one meter. Some ornamental ginger varieties can grow even taller.
