The ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is grown for its aromatic, pungent and spicy rhizomes, often referred to as ginger roots. Ginger is a popular ingredient in stir-fries, Asian cuisine and for manyhomemade herbal remedies. The main active ingredients in ginger are gingerols, which are responsible for its distinctive taste. Gingerols are powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that can relieve pain, boost the immune system and protect against cancer. Ginger is easy to find in most grocery stores, but can be very expensive. If you use this delicious root very often, you can breed and grow ginger. Not only can this save you money, but it can also ensure that your ginger has not been treated with unwanted chemicals. In the following article we will explain everything you need to know about growing ginger.
Can you grow ginger in Europe?
Ginger is a tropical plant and it is quite difficult to grow it in regions with a cool climate. According to the hardiness zone map, ginger can only grow year-round in zone 9 or higher. Most of the ginger sold in our markets was grown in southern China, India, Indonesia or West Africa. Most areas in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are assigned to hardiness zones 6-7.
Growing ginger outside?
In Germany, only the coastal region of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein as well as the Rhineland fall into zone 8a. That's why ginger is usually not grown outdoors, but in pots and flower boxes. If you want to grow ginger in a greenhouse, you should ensure the perfect conditions: 26 °C soil temperature, humidity of 70%, 20 °C day and night.
What Ginger Plants Like and Dislike
In order to achieve satisfactory results with ginger, it is necessary to understand the plant's specific needs. Ginger loves a sheltered location, indirect sunlight, warm weather, high humidity and nutrient-rich, moist soil. What ginger cannot stand is frost, direct sun, strong wind and soil that is too wet.
Growing a ginger plant yourself is not that difficult. The best time to grow ginger is spring, around April (late dry season/early rainy season in the tropics).
First, you need a healthy, fresh rhizome. It would be best to get some fresh rhizomes from someone who already grows ginger. Otherwise, you can simply purchase ginger from a store in early spring. Look for pieces with well-developed growth buds, also called “eyes.” The buds look like little horns at the end of the “fingers”. If you buy ginger from a store, soak the rhizomes in water overnight as they are sometimes treated with a growth inhibitor.
Cut the ginger rhizome into 1 to 2 inch pieces. Allow the pieces to dry for 24-48 hours before planting to allow the cut surfaces to heal and form a callus (a protective stratum corneum). This helps prevent possible root rot.
The best soil for ginger is loose, loamy and nutrient-rich. Clay soils allow water to drain freely, preventing the rhizomes from becoming waterlogged. You can also mix equal parts compost and potting soil. Onethick layer of mulchcan also provide nutrients, keep soil moist and control weeds.
Choose a wide, shallow container. Ginger roots grow horizontally, so width is more important than depth. It's best to use medium-sized pots that can be easily moved.
Planting ginger – instructions:
- Make sure each rhizome piece is 1 to 2 inches wide and has at least one “eye.”
- Add a drainage layer of expanded clay or shards of clay about five centimeters thick to the pot. Then fill the pot up to the watering rim with potting soil and press it down lightly.
- Place each piece about 1 to 2 inches deep in the soil, with the buds facing up. You can plant 2 to 3 pieces in each large pot (about 35cm diameter) or plant 5 pieces in rows in a planter. Maintain a distance of around 5 cm between the plants.
- Water a little immediately after planting. Now use a spray bottle to moisten the soil daily.
- If you are lucky, a green shoot will appear after about 1 week.
- After germination, check the soil daily and always water just before it dries out completely.
Ginger prefers a place with lots of light, but no direct sun - ideally in partial shade or on an east-facing balcony with only morning sun. 2 to 5 hours of sunlight is optimal. In the garden you can place the pot in the shade of a tree or awning. He will also feel very comfortable in a greenhouse or a winter garden. In order for the ginger to germinate, the soil must be warm - soil temperature between 22 and 25 degrees. You can also cover the pot loosely with clear foil.
How much space does ginger need?
Ginger in the pot doesn't take up much space at all. Each rhizome you plant initially develops only a few leaves. Ginger grows slowly and only reaches a height of 60 to 90 cm. Many of the roots appear above ground, which is natural for this type of plant. The underground rhizomes don't seem to mind if they're a little crowded.
By the way, ginger is also very pretty as a houseplant. It has shiny, broad-lanceolate green leaves and smells wonderful too.
Growing Ginger – How Much Water?
Ginger needs a lot of water while it is actively growing. The soil should never dry out. But also avoid overwatering. You can water intensively once a week.
Ginger loves moisture. If you have problems with dry air, regular spraying can help. Dry air can cause problems with spider mites. This is often a problem for people who want to grow ginger in a cool climate or indoors. Ginger is also susceptible to diseases andPests such as aphids, ants, cutworms, snails, bacterial wilt and fusarium fungus.
In late summer or early fall (around September), when the weather cools, the stems turn yellow and the plant dies. Reduce watering and allow the soil to dry out. This will encourage the plants to form underground rhizomes. Once all the leaves have died back, your ginger is ready to harvest.
When to harvest ginger root?
You can harvest your ginger in as little as four months, but the flavor won't be as intense. After about eight months, your ginger plant will be mature. As soon as the temperature outside falls below 10° C, you should move the plant indoors.
Ginger can be harvested by digging up the entire plant including the root. After harvesting, select new rhizomes to transplant and save the rest for the kitchen. Fresh ginger can be stored unpeeled in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or frozen for up to 6 months. The newly planted rhizomes require no water or care until the weather warms up again.
When does ginger bloom?
If you grow ginger as described above, you will not see any flowers. The ginger plant needs to be around two years old to bloom. So if you want to see ginger flowers, leave the roots in the ground and only partially and carefully dig them up to only harvest some of the edges.
In order for ginger to mature and flower, it must be grown at temperatures of at least 10°C for 10 months. From this point on you will need several months where the temperature is always above 21°C. This allows the ginger rhizomes to mature and produce flowers.
The flowers of ginger (Z. officianale), used for culinary purposes, are green and insignificant anyway. However, there are some spectacular flowering ginger varieties such as Zingiber spectabile, Alpinia purpurata, Etlingera elatior (torch ginger) and Hedychium coronarium (butterfly lily). They are grown just like culinary ginger, but the roots are not harvested.
Ginger leaves and flowers are also edible
Although not as commonly used as the root, the leaves and shoots of ginger are edible. They are primarily used as a tasteful garnish, much like you would use chives or scallions. Finely chop the leaves or shoots and sprinkle them over the dish before serving. They have a mild ginger taste.
The flowers of the torch ginger(Etlingera elatior), especially the buds, are also edible. In Malaysia they are used to flavor soups and curry dishes. The Malaysian word for ginger flower is Bunga Kantan. It gives its distinctive flavor to many iconic Malaysian dishes: Asam Laksa, Nonya Laksa, Asam Pedas, Nasi Ulam, Nasi Kerabu and the numerous Kerabu salads.
Growing ginger in water
As already explained, the plant is usually cultivated in the ground, but can alsogrown hydroponically. In fact, growing ginger in water has advantages over traditional cultivation. Hydroponically growing ginger plants require less maintenance and less space.
First, a piece of the rhizome is germinated in soil and later placed in a hydroponic system. You need about 3 x 3 cm of growing space per plant. The tray in which you place the plants should be between 10 and 15 cm deep. You can also try IKEA’s hydroponic system called “Växer”.
Once the rhizomes have produced stems and some leaves, you can remove the plants from the soil and rinse off the roots. Keep the plants about 12 inches apart. Pour enough water to cover the roots. Keep the pH of the growth medium between 5.5 and 8.0. Give the plants approximately 18 hours of light per day and allow them to rest for 8 hours.
It is also possible to keep a slightly germinated piece of rhizome in a glass or container with water. It will continue to grow and produce leaves. Change the water as needed.
