Ginger is an aromatic, spicy and delicious plant that you can grow at home in your edible garden. I love growing ginger organically and if you grow it, you can also control the chemicals and pesticides you use. In this guide to growing ginger, we learn about the different types of ginger and how to grow ginger at home. We will see How To Grow Ginger and How Long Does It Take to Grow Ginger. Ginger is one of those aromatic and spicy delicacies that can be grown in local gardens.
What Is Ginger?
First, there are numerous types of ginger plants that are both edible and decorative. Ordinary ginger is also called culinary ginger, but ginger can also be grown as an edible plant or even as an ornamental ginger with edible parts. Zingiber officinale, as it is called botanically, comes from the Zediberaceae family, which also includes turmeric, cardamom and galangal.
Originally from Southeast Asia and now cultivated all over the world, ginger is native to India, China, Japan, South Korea and other parts of South America.
Ginger is a flowering plant with a rhizome that grows horizontally and flowers at the end of its life cycle. The ginger rhizas are surrounded by a thick layer of leaves and a thin layer at the end of the leaf.
The long, narrow leaves are the same color as the petiole and grow in different patterns. The green shoots and petioles are leaf sheaths that wind around each other and form a thick sheath around the base of the plant.
The roots sprout from a 5-15 cm long rootstock that spreads from the petiole outwards and into the leaves and petioles and then to the roots. The flowers bloom when the flowers grow undisturbed for 1-2 years and then bloom again in spring and summer.
The color of the flowers varies from yellow and green to light yellow and purple with lace, ginger flowers are also edible.
Is It A Root?
Sometimes mistakenly referred to as root ginger, ginger is actually a rhizome, the edible part of the ginger plant growing underground. The plant generally grows to 90-120 cm in size and its roots are considered logical, as the plants generally grow to 90-120 cm in size, but it is not a single root.
Growing Ginger
Ginger grows best in subtropical and tropical climates where it is warm and humid, but it can also root ginger. The easiest way to propagate ginger is to obtain a fresh rhizome from an existing plant that has buds or nodules. Once the shoots grow in the ground, the rhetoric forms and the root itself grows.
The ideal temperature for ginger plants is about 25 degrees Celsius, but should not exceed 12 degrees Celsius in the colder months.
When it gets too cold, the leaves die and the rhizomes fail or wither, so healthy soil is important for the cultivation of healthy ginger plants. Ginger grown in cold climates can hibernate until replanting in spring, but if it dies in autumn, it can only grow again in spring.
The ideal soil has a pH of 5 – 6.5, with a pH value between 5.6 – 5 and an average pH value of 7.0 or higher.
Ginger prefers a soil that is rich, loamy, sandy and loose, retains moisture and also provides good drainage so that it does not get wet. The ideal conditions for growing ginger roots are provided by a well – rotten manure with a pH of 5.6 – 6.5 and an average pH of 7.0 or higher. To improve soil quality, mix a mixture of organic material such as compost, compost pellets or a mixture of slurry and water.
Ginger enjoys very hot weather and thrives best in the summer months of July, August, September, October, November, December and February.
Ginger also grows in partial shade, so plant your ginger rhizomes in the shade of a tree or in a shady place, such as under a shady tree, shrub or even in your garden. You can see the start of the ginger shoots, but you have to start the growth process at least a few weeks before the first frost date.
If it does not rain, light watering can be offered for a few weeks, but when new shoots are drifting into the ground, watering is often necessary. If you hold back water beyond this point, your ginger rhizomes will rot before they have a chance to be expelled.
Ginger plants thrive with plenty of water, and watering is essential to produce healthy, ginger rhizomes. You can drip irrigate your ginger regularly, as long as it does not cause any problems.
Test the moisture in the soil by pressing your finger into the soil around the plant with your second ankle.
Fertilizers for ginger
If the soil is moist, no additional water is required, but if it is dry, water should be added to the ginger as a drink. It is important to drain the soil so that the water does not penetrate it and causes the ginger to rot. The use of organic mulch around ginger plants helps to store soil moisture and protect the plant from drying out.
Clean the soil with compost or well rotted manure before planting ginger roots, and you can support ginger growth with a balanced organic fertilizer.
The use of organic mulch on the ginger plants protects the soil from drying out and provides the plants with additional nutrients as mulching decreases over time. You can also promote ginger growth by feeding chicken pellets or slurry once or twice during the growing season.
How To Plant Ginger
Ginger can be grown in pots, planted in the soil or in a pot and grow well in an open area such as garden or bed. Ginger can also be grown by transporting it to a protected area and growing it in the shade of a tree or trunk or tall tree.
In places where the rhizomes are naturally narrow, look for 2-3 buds or buds, but this is not absolutely necessary. Divide with a clean sharp knife and break off 2 to 3 of the growth buds in a place where they are naturally narrower.
It is best to have the wound healed by cutting off the rhizome and developing a surface callus. This process can take several days and prevents ginger from rotting when planted, but best as soon as possible.
Once the cut has healed, it is time to plant, but do not be tempted to divide the ginger rhizome into really small pieces in the hope that more plants will emerge. If you keep the root system as small as possible (about 1 / 2 ‘in diameter), the rhizomes have a better chance of establishing themselves in your soil and then achieving a good harvest.
Growing Ginger In Ground
Prepare your soil with compost or, better still, rotten manure, but also add organic fertilizer or chicken pellets during this time.
Ginger rhizomes do not need to be planted very deep; about 1 inch depth is ideal, but remove the rhizomes at a distance of about 15 – 20 cm.
When you discover it, plant the rhizomes with the upward-facing buds and plant them in the same direction as the root system.
Cover the root ginger with soil, gently pat it on the ground and then wait to see if new shoots sprout. When the soil is dry, the water helps to get the ginger rootstock out of its dormancy phase, but this is only necessary if the soil is already moist and the new shoots are sprouting.
Growing Ginger In Pot
Choose a ginger plant that has enough space to grow and fill the pot with a high-quality pot mixture. A deep pot is not necessary as ginger grows horizontally and rhizomes grow close to the surface, but ginger can grow at least 15 cm deep if you have a suitable pot size. Fill the pots with the best quality of the pots and the ginger will start to germinate, which can take up to 6 weeks.
Add 1 / 2 cup water and 1 cup or more ginger juice and 2 tablespoons salt to the pot mixture and place ginger in the pots.
Carefully tighten the soil and plant the root of the ginger about 1 cm deep in the soil, about 2 cm above the surface. Gently push the buds upwards with your hands until they reach a diameter of about 4 cm and a thickness of about 3 cm.
When you see the shoots start to sprout, you know that the ginger rhizome is in its dormant phase. When the soil is dry, it is only helpful to take it out once and for all. As long as the floors are already damp, no watering is required, but if not, no watering is required.
The best time for the ginger plant is in spring, when the risk of frost is over, but it should start to germinate in about 2-3 weeks. When it gets warmer, you can plant and harvest the ginger in a pot in your garden to have a head start during the growing season. Ginger can be harvested for up to 6 weeks, already at the end of April or the beginning of May.
Have you ever wondered if you can plant ginger roots in the grocery store, and the answer is yes, if I can buy and buy ginger? Commercially grown ginger rhizomes are often treated with growth retarders and germ inhibitors, so it is a good idea to buy organic ginger.
Select ginger rhizomes with well-developed buds and nodules, although this is not strictly necessary. If you are not interested in treating your ginger with chemical inhibitors, leave the ginger rhizome to soak in water for a few hours. This helps to remove the inhibitors, so you have a good chance of successful ginger cultivation.
How Long Does Ginger Take To Grow
As soon as the weather turns cold, the trunk of the plant begins to wither and die. So look for healthy, plump ginger that has not shrunk in age. Ginger cultivation can take 8-10 months to fully ripen, but after 4-6 months, small pieces of rhizome can be harvested.
The ginger harvest usually coincides with the beginning of winter, usually in late March or early April and the beginning of summer.
If you live in a cold climate and your growth is not strong, it is a good idea to overwinter the ginger as described above so that it can grow for a second season after harvesting. Another option is to store the ginger roots in dry sand until the next growing season. Keep the water away during this time, otherwise the rhizome can perish in wet or cold soil. It should remain completely dry so that it is ready for the next season when it can be planted back in the soil in the pot in spring.
After 4 – 6 months, you can start harvesting parts of the rhizome by carefully digging the sides of the ginger rhisomes into clumps. Make sure to leave the leaves of the other rhizomes so that they can continue to grow.
Loosen the soil around the plant and plant it gently and keep the rhizomes with the best buds and nodes until the next planting season.
The fresh ginger stays on the worktop for about a week, the rest is kept for culinary and other kitchen purposes. Peeling and ginger slicing can take up to 4 weeks if wrapped in paper towels, put in a plastic bag and stored in the fridge. Ginger can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 3-4 weeks or stored at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Another option is to peel the fresh ginger and freeze it in ice cubes, this does not require defrosting. To use the ginger, simply peel the pieces you want to use, rub in the required amount and replace the rhizome in the freezer. You can also freeze ginger by putting the whole ginger unpeeled in a freezer bag and freezing it for up to 2 weeks.
A third option is to puree the peeled ginger with a small amount of water in a food processor and process it too smooth and creamy.
Dried ginger has a long shelf life and pickled ginger, which is stored in a glass and chilled, can last up to 6 months. Fill ice cubes with pureed ginger and freeze or put into freezer bags. Frozen ginger can last for about 6 months, frozen ginger ice cubes can be frozen for a longer period of time, about 3-4 weeks.
To dry ginger easily, use a food dryer or oven that is set to a low temperature, such as an oven. If stored correctly, the dried ginger lasts 3-4 years and the pureed ginger for about 2-3 months.
Pests and Disease
Like many other herbs in the garden, ginger is prone to pests and diseases, so watch out for signs of diseases such as yellow fever, cholera and other diseases.
To control pests, add good, useful nematodes to the soil to fight the pests and get rid of the bad ones. This can be achieved by supplying your soil with healthy, home-made compost that provides useful nematodes, or by buying online or in garden centers. Horticulture Neem Oil can also be used to control bad nematodes by damaging them. This can damage the rhizomes and prevent them from establishing themselves properly, as well as damaging their growth.
Other pests can be mealbugs that feed on the stems and leaves of the plant, as well as other pests such as aphids, moths, beetles and other insects.
You can use dipped cotton buds to remove them by mixing water, detergent and horticultural neem oil in a spray bottle and spraying the plant after it is soaked in treatment. Neem oils reduce the attractiveness of leaves and can cause the pest to feed on them and damage the plants. It is also an effective treatment against other pests such as aphids, moths, rosebugs and other insects.
The most common diseases of ginger plants are bacterial wilting and root rot, and the simplest treatment method is to remove the damaged leaves and stems caused by bacterial wilting and examine the plant for signs to prevent the spread.
Root rot is very common in excessively moist soils, so make sure the soil is good for draining to prevent this. It would also be useful to practice crop rotation by using ginger with plants that are less susceptible to bacterial wilting and do not harbor sweet potatoes. Organic bacterial killers can be used to treat root rot and other diseases of the ginger plant.
Conclusion
Growing ginger is easy, and then you can harvest your own ginger and use it to flavor your dishes. When planting your ginger roots, remember to give your plants sufficient water as soon as they start to germinate to ensure a rich harvest.
