Growing and Harvesting Ginger

Ginger grows from a spreading, tuberous rhizome. It does well in moist fertile soil in warm winter areas. If you have seen ginger in the grocery store, the root looks like a flattened, beige, segmented bulb. The foliage is tall and dark green in color, springing from upright, rigid stems. Even in areas that experience a hard frost, ginger can be grown in large pots and over-wintered indoors.

Sprout Ginger from Root Stock

There are many varieties of ginger, but for a good introduction to keeping this useful herb, select your stock from the local grocery. The resulting plants should be hardy and attractive, probably producing small, yellow flowers. Look for large root pieces that are shiny and fat.

Start ginger in a large shallow pot that contains one-part sand to one-part potting soil. I generally use a 14" pot filled three quarters full with soil. Lay rooting pieces horizontally, placing them two or three inches apart around the center of the pot. Cover with one inch of soil. Ginger likes to grow in dappled light to light shade. While sprouting, make sure to keep the roots uniformly moist.

When sprouts appear you will see small portions of root poking through the soil. As the root is visible, it will be easier to harvest small segments as the plants mature. Avoid harvesting ginger for a season. This allows the plants to get a good start in life.

Once you have a thriving set of shoots, place the plants in a shady spot out of doors for a few hours a day after the overnight temperature rises above 50 degrees F. Increase the time outside over a four day period, and then place the pot in a shady permanent location. The three things to remember are that ginger needs shade, regular water, and won't tolerate freezing temperatures. Apply an all-purpose fertilizer to your plants twice during the growing season.

Overwintering Ginger in Cold Climates

In the fall, bring the pot indoors and place it in a storage area where the temperature stays above freezing. Allow the tops of the plant to yellow and then trim them off. Moisten the soil once a month to keep the roots viable. In the spring, after all threat of frost has passed, place the pot in a warm shady spot and watch for a new set of shoots. Repot every couple of years.

Harvesting Ginger

As the root is near the surface, you will often see small nobs at the soil line of your plant that can be selectively cut for culinary use.

Special Note:

If growing ginger directly in the soil, be sure to keep the plant moist. I've had success placing it near a downspout where it will be sure to get good water runoff, particularly in the heat of summer.