How to Grow Ginger

Guide Note Ginger is a perennial plant that can be grown indoors as well as outdoors in some locations. It requires very little care and is ready to harvest about ten months after it is planted. This page will tell you how to grow ginger in almost any location.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Step 1: Propagating Ginger
• Step 2: Growing Ginger
  • Planting Ginger Indoors
  • Planting Ginger Outdoors
• Step 3: Caring for Ginger
• Step 4: Harvesting and Storing Ginger
• Conclusion
• References

Growing Ginger Tips

1. Ginger can be propagated from ginger root purchased at most stores.
2. Ginger should be started indoors in most locations.
3. Plant or place ginger in a shady location.
4. Soil should be rich and well-draining.
5. Harvest ginger about 10 months after planting.

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Introduction

• Ginger is a tropical, perennial plant that has been used in the kitchen and the medicine cabinet for hundreds of years.¹ Common ginger, Zingiber officinale, is sold in most grocery stores as "ginger root."² However, there are hundreds of varieties of ginger, both edible and inedible. If you are interested in other varieties of ginger, check out any of the following links:
  1. University of Hawaii Botany: Zingiberaceae
  2. HART CANNA: Ginger Collection of Keith Hayward
  3. GingerGarden.com: Growing Gingers and Tropical Plant Gardening in Houston, TX
  4. Le Jardin Ombrage: All About Ginger
  5. Southern Perennials and Herbs: Gingers  

Step 1: Propagating Ginger

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Helene Jutras)
  Ginger can be propagated by planting pieces of the rhizome (underground stem or root).³ Common ginger is often sold in stores as a large piece called a "hand." Each branch off the main root is then referred to as a "finger." Choose a piece that has as many fingers as possible. Each finger can be broken off and planted separately.⁴

1. Select pieces of ginger that are smooth, shiny, plump, fresh and firm, not dried out.^{5 6 7}
2. Each piece (or finger) should have two or more growth nodes.⁷ These are similar to eyes on a potato and look like little horns.⁶
3. Soak the rhizome in water overnight.⁶
4. Allow any cut surfaces to dry before planting them in moist soil.⁴
5. You can help propagate ginger by suspending (with toothpicks) a two-inch piece of the rhizome over a glass of water. Fill the glass so that 1/3 of the ginger is submerged. Once the roots grow an inch long, you can plant it in soil.⁵

Step 2: Growing Ginger

• Unless you live in the extreme south (Zone 10), you will need to grow or at least start your ginger in a pot indoors before moving outside.⁸

Planting Ginger Indoors

• Select a pot that is at least two times in diameter as the length of the root.⁴ Most growers suggest using a pot that is about 15 inches in diameter.⁹ Your pot should have adequate drainage to ensure the roots don't become water logged.

1. Plant ginger in the late winter or early spring.⁶
2. Fill the pot 3/4 full with soil.¹⁰
3. Use a soil that is rich and well-draining.⁶
   1. You can use standard potting soil.⁴
   2. Another suggestion is to use a soil that is equal parts peat moss, perlite and coarse sand.¹¹
   3. Sandy loam and clay soils should be improved with leaf mold or well-composted manure.⁷
4. Make sure the rhizome is set so the buds are pointing up.⁹
5. If planting multiple rhizomes in the same area, place rhizomes two to three inches apart.¹⁰
6. Cover rhizomes with an inch of soil or leave the rhizome uncovered.⁸
7. Water the pot well.⁴

Planting Ginger Outdoors

• Ginger should not be placed outdoors until daytime temperatures exceed 75°F and all danger of frost has passed.^{8 5}

1. If you live in an area where water is plentiful, you can place ginger in a sunny location. If water is limited, place the ginger in a location where at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the day it will be in the shade.¹¹
2. Soil needs to be rich and well-draining.⁶
   • -Add leaf mold or well-composted manure to sandy loam and clay soils.⁷
3. Make sure the rhizome is set so the buds are pointing up.⁹
4. If planting multiple rhizomes in the same area, place rhizomes two to three inches apart.¹⁰
5. Cover rhizomes with an inch of soil.
6. Water the area well.⁴
7. If you live in USDA Hardiness Zone 7, the foliage may freeze in the winter but will resprout in the spring.¹¹
8. USDA Zones 6 and above will need to provide plants with a sunny location indoors in the winter.¹¹

Step 3: Caring for Ginger

• Ginger is easy to care for since it is not known for having problems with many pests or diseases.⁴ The most important things to remember is that ginger requires shade, regular water and above freezing temperatures.¹⁰

1. 

   (Creative Commons photo by Hajime NAKANO)
   Ginger requires plenty of moisture when it is actively growing.
   1. Water lightly until the plant becomes established.⁹
   2. Infrequent deep watering is better than regular light watering.¹¹
   3. Some advise to allow the soil to dry out between watering to prevent the rhizome from rotting.¹¹ Others suggest never letting the soil to dry out.⁶
   4. Water infrequently in the fall and only lightly in the winter.¹¹
2. Mist your plants if you live in a dry area. Lack of humidity can cause problems with spider mites.⁶
3. Place the pot in a warm spot (at least 65°F).¹¹
4. Fertilize ginger once a month with a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer.¹¹

Step 4: Harvesting and Storing Ginger

• Ginger will reach its peak flavor about 265 days after it is planted.⁴ You can harvest it after the foliage has died back in the fall or winter by digging up the roots.² The roots can be dried and powdered, used fresh, or frozen.²

1. After harvesting, roots should be scrubbed with a vegetable brush.²
2. Ginger can be dried by placing it in the sun. Dried ginger can be stored in a cupboard or refrigerated.⁵
3. Fresh ginger can be stored in a plastic bag for several weeks in your refrigerator.³
4. Select a few rhizomes with good growing buds and save them for replanting.⁶

Conclusion

• Now that you have fresh ginger, you might want to check out some of the great recipes that require it, such as How to Make Sushi, How to Build a Gingerbread House, How to Make Gingerbread Men, Japanese Food and Chinese Food. You might also want to expand your garden by checking out How to Grow Garlic, How to Grow Herbs or How to Start a Vegetable Garden.

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References for How to Grow Ginger

1. ↑ University of Washington Department of Family Medicine: Ginger (Zingiber officinale)  
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} University of Florida IFAS Extension: Growing and Using Edible Gingers in North Florida  
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} PLANTAnswers: Ginger
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7} Learn2Grow: Growing Ginger
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Gardening-Guides.com: Grow Ginger
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8} The Tropical Permaculture Garden: How To Grow Ginger?
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Floridata: Zingiber officinale  
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} How To Grow Stuff: How to Grow Ginger
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} Greenthumb Gardening: How to Grow Ginger in a Cold Climate
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3} The Herb Gardener: Growing and Harvesting Ginger
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8} EasytoGrowBulbs.com: Planting Guide - Gingers