How to Grow Wild Ginger Plants
Wild ginger, asarum canadense, a hardy perennial native to the woodlands of North America, is not to be confused with its Asian namesake. Though the thin roots of wild ginger do have a similar, subtle spicy flavor suitable for sweet and savory dishes, it is more commonly seen as a functional plant for ground cover, with its dark evergreen, heart-shaped leaves. Easy to grow and with the promise that it won't overtake your entire garden, wild ginger is an attractive choice for planting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wild ginger seeds
- Potting soil
- Water
- Fertilizer
- Peat oss
- Trowel
- Black plastic bag
- Scissors
Instructions
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Planting Wild Ginger
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1
Buy seedlings at a nursery, or start your own seeds indoors in early spring, a few weeks before the last frost.
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2
Place the seeds in a black plastic bag with soil. Put the bag in your refrigerator for three weeks. This will allow the seeds to soak up moisture from the soil and begin to sprout.
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3
Sow the seeds after the last chance of frost, preferably on a day with temperatures around 60 degrees.
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4
Plant the seeds 12-inches apart in a partial or fully shaded area. Water them in and give them fertilizer.
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5
Water during dry periods, keeping the soil moist, but not wet. In the fall, add peat moss around the plants to detract slugs.
Harvest Wild Ginger
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6
Harvest your wild ginger without destroying the perennial, by digging two inches down into the soil between the plants.
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7
Use scissors to cut off a few inches of the roots, taking care to push back any loose soil when you are done.
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8
Feel free to harvest wild ginger several times during the year with no disturbance to the patch.
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9
Use wild ginger to flavor food or tea. Dry and crush the root to maximize its subtle flavor.
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