When to Plant Ginger?

The easiest way to grow ginger is from the rhizome.

Ginger plants can serve many purposes. Though ginger is most commonly known for its flavorful rhizomes which are used to flavor candy, cookies and beverages, this plant can also serve as an ornamental addition to the garden. Ginger is a perennial plant which is an attractive ground cover. At the end of the season, some of the rhizomes can also be harvested for culinary purposes.

Types of Ginger

Culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale) is the best choice for gardeners interested in harvesting flavorful rhizomes at the end of the season. However, this type of ginger is best suited to warm tropical climates found only in parts of Florida and California in the contiguous United States. Gardeners in other climates can choose from a variety of other species such as Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense), European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum), large flower heartleaf (Hexastylis shuttleworthii) and arrowleaf ginger (Hexastylis arifolia), which are better suited to cooler zones. These varieties provide more ground cover than culinary ginger and still provide an edible rhizome, though the flavor may not be as strong as that of the culinary counterpart.

Planting Methods

The easiest way to grow ginger is to obtain a piece of an existing plant's rhizome. Look for a piece with small buds, or "eyes" protruding from it. The rhizome can then be planted directly in the soil with these buds facing upwards. Ginger can also be started from seed, but this process takes much longer as the plant will need at least two years to germinate. With either method, the ginger should be planted in late winter or early spring.

Care

Ginger should be kept warm and moist throughout the growing season. These plants prefer moderate sunlight. Extreme cold, frost or full sun can all damage ginger. In the fall as temperatures drop, the soil can be allowed to dry out just as the leaves begin to die off. This will encourage growth of the rhizomes.

Harvest

The rhizomes can be harvested in late fall, as the leaves of the ginger plant begin to yellow and die. A healthy ginger plant will produce multiple rhizomes each year. In gardens where ginger is used ornamentally, the rhizomes can be left in place to encourage thicker growth, or divided and replanted for more spread. In cold climates, ginger should be brought indoors during the winter. For those who want to use the ginger rhizomes for culinary purposes, this part of the plant, often incorrectly referred to as the "root," can be harvested.

References

• Clemson Cooperative Extension; Wild Ginger; George M. Dickert; 2009
• The Washington Post; Growing Ginger in Cooler Climates; Barbara Damrosch; 2010
• Plant Cultures: Ginger -- Grow It
• Grow Herbs: Growing Ginger