Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi,

Amongst the last lot of ginger root I bought were some with shoots, I'm planning on rooting these, before I do, does anyone have any experience of growing ginger?

Thanks,

Carl

Hi Carl

I potted up a piece of ginger in spring and kept it in the greenhouse, although you might get away with a windowsill in the house. Grew really nicely, and at the end of the season I dug up the root and used it in the kitchen. (seem to remember the advice about how to grow came from B Flowerdew some time ago...) Makes an interesting houseplant, great talking point.

Other grapes might know more...

Did your root have shoots on it kentvegplot or did you just stick a bit in a pot?

I grow pots of ginger every year in my unheated conservatory. Some years do better than others, and since my only source of “seed” ginger is the greengrocer, and therefore it’s labelled simply as “ginger,” with no further information about where it comes from, how it’s been treated, and so on, I’m working in the dark a bit - I can’t always tell why it’s done better or worse in any particular year.

Anyway, at this time of year the best thing to do with your ginger pieces with buds on, in my opinion, is to pot them up in about a 4 or 5” pot of good fresh multi-purpose peatfree compost, with the bud below the surface. (If you’re starting in Spring, leave the bud at surface level).

Keep the compost more or less dry all winter. In spring, start to water - cautiously. Gradually pot on the ginger as it grows through the season, just as you would with other potted crops.

Personally, I wouldn't bother planting bits of ginger that don’t show buds or at least “eyes” where you think buds might come from.

They don’t need great heat, and they don’t like to be too wet - humidity seems to be more important to them. I feed them with comfrey or seaweed liquid during the summer when they're growing strongly.

One tip, which I learned the slow way: they prefer dappled sun to strong, direct light. Add this to their need for humidity, and what I do is put their pots on the floor of the conservatory surrounded by bigger plants; that seems to create a good atmosphere for them.

When I harvest the ginger - after the foliage has died off, towards xmastime - I scrape off the skin, slice the ginger and store it in a jar of vodka in the fridge. It keeps for months, ready for use in curries etc. I’m close to self-sufficiency in ginger these days, without great effort; I’d definitely say it’s a crop worth having a go at. Very tasty, very interesting, and a quite attractive foliage plant.

Thanks for all that fantastic advice!

Carl

And I bet the vodka's not bad either!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I was thinking that myself Snadger! I once had a go at growing ginger but didn't keep at it. Must try harder!

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www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated November 17th - The Big Dig

Well you see, I am forced to drink it because to waste it would be anti-ecological ...

Thanks for the brilliant advice Mat .... just one question:
What size pot does your ginger end up in?

Thanks for all that Mat. I've tried ginger before. It shot allright then just seemed to die off and not come to anything. Probably too wet and too much direct sun and not enough humidity. You've inspired me to try again.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Mine too, Alice. It shoots nicely and then sits around and does absolutely nothing. Will try again.

Carl, I can see this thread taking off, with everybody having another go at planting ginger thanks to your question and Mat's advice. Could be a pet project for a few people. You and me Rustylady

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Last year I planted ginger root and got a plant about 5 foot high - replanted a bit of the root this year and put it in the greenhouse - 6 inches high, another bit stayed on the kitchen windowsill where I grew it last year - now 2 foot high and looking fresh and green. Obviously it prefers my kitchen windowsill! When the leaves die off, reduce watering and leave to dry then unearth it to use.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

The true answer is ... various! It depends what pots I've got available, whether and when I get round to potting on, and so on. But I reckon the ideal is something around 9-10". On the other hand, if it keeps on growing, and by feeling around with your fingers under the compost you can tell it's filling the pot, then just pot on again.

Well done Shirlthegirl. When I say mine shot and grew and died I mean when it was 6 " high. Definitely have to have another go.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

I'm so ashamed of my attempt at growing/rooting the ginger that started shooting in my kitchen, that I'm not even going to tell a single soul about it. I'm just going to sulk very quietly in the corner and take notes of all your successes and try very much harder, whenever I am next blessed with anything that remotely resembles a house or a kitchen en france.... "Bring it ON...!"

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With Love,
Wellie

Give it some....

http://hollycottagegarden.blogspot.com
BLOG UPDATED Sunday 2nd November at 19.30hrs

Coincidentally I went to a friend's house at the weekend and he proudly asked me if I could 'guess what this is'! It was a ginger plant, about 3 ft tall, growing and flowering in his garden ..... in November!
Pretty flower, a bit like a group of miniature bird of paradise, with a really intense, sweet smell.
Not sure how big the root would have been - he didn't seem very keen to dig it up

Excellent!

Thanks for the thread Carl ,and the advice Mat.

Guess what I'm having a go at next year...

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - Minor update - 10th November

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I wouldnt worry about waiting till next year. If you find a sprouting bit, plant it and see what happens. The plant on my kitchen windowsill is now 3 foot plus and looking quite happy. Sometimes they seem to take ages to get going so if you are growing it in the house, time of year shouldn't matter much

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

I'll need to buy some ginger with the intention of planting it. Any we buy for general consumption gets eaten pretty quick.

Is it worth mixing in a good deal of sand to help drainage given that it seems to prefer not to be too wet?

Edit: just found this:http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/ginger_grow_it.html

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - Minor update - 10th November

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I use a mix which is half seived multipurpose compost, quarter perlite and quarter vermiculite. Planted it last year as it was sprouting (first year of growing anything and prepared to give all sorts a try). Used the same compost type this year as it had worked last year.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

We've 2 plants at the moment, planted back in Feb, the first one has 3 shoots and is just about dying back now, the second has 2 shoots and is still green, both are about 3' tall and both in 12" pots, once the 1st one has completely died back then we are going to dig it up n see whether its worth growing or not for us!

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Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 5th November2008 - new piccies!

I've got one in the bathroom, about 2 ft tall, which grew from a small piece of sprouting ginger which I planted in a 6" pot a few months ago. I've kept this one quite shady, having killed a couple before with direct sunlight. Hoping it'll last the winter.

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