Growing Ginger

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.