Ginger Roots
Ginger, known
as Zingiber officinale or official ginger is a very easy
herb to grow. Even better? You can probably find a start at the grocery store.
This is not the
tropical ginger with flashy blooms that you see in Hawaiian photos, but rather
the ginger root you use in gingerbread! If you grow your own you can use it
fresh or even dry it.
If you can find
an organic piece of ginger root with some eye buds forming (sort of like the eyes on a potato) you will have a ginger plant
sooner rather than later.
Ginger
Roots-See the Green Eye Buds?
Although it is
easy to grow in a container or in the garden, Ginger has a few requirements for
growing well.
It likes warmth.
It likes partial shade.
It likes moist, rich soil.
If you can
provide these things, you can grow your own ginger root!
Here’s the
“Ginger Growing 4-1-1″ :
Find a nice
ginger root (known as a rhizome) at the store. Look for eye bud swellings.
If you can get
them, an organic rhizome is probably better because non organic roots may be
treated with a growth inhibitor, and you may want to eat your root at some
point! If you can’t find anything else, grab the non organic anyway and give it
a try. Organic or not, I have never had one NOT grow!
If you have a
large root with several eye growth buds, you can break the root into several
pieces, each with an eye bud and plant them all!
Dig your spot
in the garden, or use a good potting mix and fill your container nearly full.
Plant the ginger just an inch or two beneath the soil, making sure the eye buds
are pointing upward!
Ginger root
with growth buds facing up!
Cover the root
and water.
A 12″ pot can probably handle two roots, larger containers can handle another
one or two. Plastic is best, roots can get ‘stuck’ in terra cotta and you may
shatter pots when digging the roots.
Make sure you
keep the rhizomes moist, out of bright direct sun and wind.
Compared to
other herbs, Ginger plants are ‘slow pokes’ when it comes to growing. They will
eventually reach a height of 2 feet or more in a container and may hit a
height of 2 to 3 feet in the garden.
Ginger
growing nicely!
You can harvest
your rhizomes at any time after the plant has grown for several months, but the
longer you can keep the plant growing the larger your harvest will be. You may
notice the rhizome has some roots. You can just cut them off and use the ginger
root, or save a piece (with a growth bud) for re-planting!
You may also
notice new ‘buds’ forming at the top of the rhizome. These can be separated and
planted for even more ginger!
New Ginger
Babies!
Since I live
where it’s cold in the winter I usually start mine in the greenhouse early in
Spring, or in the house in February. Once night temperatures are above 60*F I
set them out and let them grow all summer (If your nights do not remain over 60 degrees move the pot indoors). Roots are harvested when the leaves
start to die back in the fall- but before a frost. Frost kills the plant and
can harm the roots.
If your ginger
has been growing awhile you might find the roots have gotten quite a bit larger
by the time you harvest!
If you don’t
want to harvest just yet-
You can bring
the whole pot inside and store it somewhere dry and cool, but not cold.
Remember, it’s a tropical plant! Don’t water it. Don’t even look at. Next year
when the weather warms you can add some nice compost, set it out where it
will be toasty and watch it begin growing again.
You can also
keep it in a warm, well lit area and keep it as a houseplant.
Ginger
Foliage and Root
Zingiber
officinale does not produce a showy blossom like many tropical plants, and the
way I usually grow mine does not allow time for the plant to bloom anyway. If
you overwinter yours, or you live somewhere warm, humid and tropical you might
get a few ‘plain Jane’ blooms from your Ginger plant.
Let the club know of your success in growing indoor ginger!
No comments:
Post a Comment