Wednesday, February 14, 2018

How To Grow Ginger Rhizomes

By Douglas Wagner


Ginger rhizomes are the swollen root sections of herbaceous perennial plants. The root is used for many medicinal and culinary purposes today and has been done so for centuries. It is quite easy to grow as long as it is not exposed to frost or too much direct sunlight.

This is a plant that likes a spot in partial shade. It enjoys warm weather, humidity and rich, moist soil that drains well. It dislikes direct sun, frost, strong winds and waterlogged soil. The easiest way to start growing it is to buy the common, edible variety from the grocery store. Choose roots that are plump, wrinkle-free and that have eyes or small points. Try to buy an organic product as a non-organic one may have been treated with a growth-inhibitor.

High quality soil is very important so using compost will be necessary if soil is poor. Mix the compost with an equal quantity of sandy soil. The soil will assist drainage while the compost feeds the plant and keeps away the weeds. Make sure the compost is well mixed in. Soil that has a high clay content may be a problem due to lack of drainage. It may be better to use potting soil in this case.

Cut the root into pieces with a sanitized knife. Each piece must be at least one inch wide and contain a bud or two. A piece with a couple of eyes or buds is more likely to sprout. Keep the pieces in a dry location for a couple of days. It gives the cuts a chance to form a protective seal which can prevent rot.

The best planting time is in late winter or early spring. When planting the root, make sure that the bud is on top. Plant about two inches below the surface of the soil. If planting in rows, the roots must be planted about eight inches apart. If the ground is warm and moist, they tend to take very easily.

Remember not to over-water is this can be detrimental. Plants will usually need generous watering twice a week but check regularly to determine moistness. Spraying or misting the leaves every day or two can help to maintain humidity. The roots start growing about two months from the time of planting.

As the weather cools down, the leaves begin to die back. Reduce watering because the dry ground encourages it to form roots. When all the leaves have died, the ginger is ready for harvest. Dig up the whole plant, break up the roots and select a few with good growing buds for replanting. Keep the rest for use in the kitchen.

Replant the roots and spread mulch over the bed to insulate them and offer protection in cold winter weather. Mulch helps feed the plant as it breaks down. Resisting the urge to harvest for a year or two will allow a good resource stock be built up. Ginger needs to be about two years old to flower. To see flowers, it must be left in the ground. Dig carefully around the edges to harvest and avoid uprooting the plant.




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