How to plant Ginger?

Ginger Tasty and healthy, ginger is a widespread ingredient in many western sweet treats and many Asian savory dishes. However, good quality ginger is expensive. As a result growing your own ginger is not only rewarding, but also economical.

Ginger can be grown from ginger root that you can buy in the supermarket, although this may be treated with chemicals to prevent it from growing. Therefore it is best to seek out ginger from a gardening center or organic ginger from a market where chemical spraying is unlikely. Regardless of where you buy your ginger from, ensure your ginger root is plump and large.

If the root is skinny and withered it is probably too old to use and will not grow once planted. It is a good idea to soak your ginger in lukewarm water for a few hours, which will help remove any chemical growth inhibitors that may have been applied.

Ensure that the water is not too warm, or that you do not leave the ginger to soak for too long, otherwise the root may become damaged. When planting your ginger root, ensure that you choose a container with adequate drainage as it will rot if the soil is too wet. Ginger needs consistent moisture, so consider using a gravel tray to help water both drain and moisture levels to stay consistent. Spraying your ginger with a water bottle between watering is a good method to keep your ginger moist.

Fertilize your ginger on a consistent schedule once sprouts have developed to 3-4 inches. Ginger favors a balanced fertilizer with a 5-5-5 balance of macronutrients. Be careful not to over-fertilize; it is better to be conservative and ensure that you do not poison your plant. Unlike the other plants on this list, you can grow ginger in a shallower container (as the root is already formed and needs less space to grow), although you will obviously need more space than the size of the ginger root you buy.

A Ginger root grows horizontally rather than vertically so it can be wise to choose a longer container than normal relative to the plant size. Plant your ginger root around 2 inches deep into your soil. You will need to check on the growth of the root itself, so ensure that there is enough room in the container to brush soil aside. Ginger prefers warm conditions of around 20-23C so ensure the environment remains consistently warm. Ginger enjoys partial sunlight – so ensure it receives six or so hours of sunlight a day but doesn't linger in intense sun for longer periods of time.

Ginger grows relatively slowly and sprouts should form after a few weeks rather than a few days. It takes at least 3 months for the ginger to mature to a stage where it can be harvested. Once mature, dig down to the ginger root and harvest a rhizome. The ginger root grows horizontally and you should be able to harvest individual rhizomes without damaging the plant. These rhizomes can be planted to grow more ginger or used in your dishes.