Ginger

Ginger

Plant Date: Spring

Planting: You can use ginger root bought at the grocery store to grow the plant. Just make sure you choose a root that has several little buds on it. If the root is large and has several "fingers" you can break them off and plant them seperately, as long as they have at least one bud. If you live in a climate where the temperature goes below 50°F in the winter, you'll need to plant your ginger in a pot that can be moved indoors when needed. The pot needs to be wide enough to give the root room to grow horizontally. It should be at least a foot across, larger if you plan to let the plant grow longer before harvesting. Plant the root about an inch deep with the buds facing up. The roots need a high temperature to send up shoots and it may take awhile. Mine took about 1-2 months before they finally came up. I had given up and was about to throw them out when one finally sprouted!

Care: Keep your ginger watered but don't let the soil get too soggy or the root can rot. The soil needs to be well drained. The leaves are also very susceptible to wind damage.

Harvest: Wait at least 5 months before harvesting your root. You'll get the best harvest if you wait 1-2 years. I like to cycle through my plants. I have one that only gets harvested once a year and several others that I harvest every 5 months. When harvesting, gently pull the root out of the soil. Cut off the parts of the root you want and replant!