Growing ginger

[iainhawk]

Does anyone have any advice for growing ginger. I planted a section of root from a supermarket-bought organic ginger root. It has come up and is now about 5 inches high.

i have read that you should keep it warm and moist, but will it grow in a sheltered spot outside?

If grow inside (greenhouse) how big a pot does it need to grow well


Also how long until you can harvest any of the roots and what is its productivity like in the UK.

[Lesley Jay]

You must grow it indoors. It needs a minimum temperature of 28c. There is some more information at http://www.plantcultures.co.uk/plant...r_grow_it.html

I will try and find out some more information for you.

I don't know why but it will not show the web address fully. In the space where there are....... it should read plants/ginger_grow_it.html

[Shortie]

What timing.... I kept an a Reader's exchange from KG just yesterday as I want to grow ginger and have the roots ready. Spotted it will ripping out articles to keep / mags to chuck in recycling... It says:

Yes, you can grow root ginger at home [....] It is a tender plant so needs the protection of a warm windowsill, but is not too difficult to grow from a fresh root pruchased from your local supermarket. Just make sure it has not become dehydrated and that it has a healthy bud(s) on the 'root' (really a rhizome). In spring plant pieces 5-7cm (2-3 ins) long to about th same depth in fresh compost and keep as warm as possible and water regularly. Harvest at the end of the season'


Not sure if that helps...?

[iainhawk]

Thanks for that- i will keep it inside then.

Thanks for the website link-it works fine first time.

[poultrychat]

I grew ginger from a supermarket last year and it grew really well but I didn't know anything about when it would be ready for use so just left it and had to bin it at the end of last year

[iainhawk]

I grew ginger from a supermarket last year and it grew really well but I didn't know anything about when it would be ready for use so just left it and had to bin it at the end of last year

what happened to it.....did you just leave it and it rotted or did it just die- or did it get too cold? i am guessing that you can harvest part of it and leave the rest to grow on...?



I just wanted to grow something interesting and try to avoid the major pitfalls. Keeping it above 25 degrees will be hard enough anyway.

[Lesley Jay]

Iain if you read that link to plant cultures it says to reduce the watering in the autumn to let the pot dry out and encourage the rhizhomes to form which are then used in cooking.

[poultrychat]

It just got too cold for it ianhawk and it died off and rotted

[fwuffydragon]

It just got too cold for it ianhawk and it died off and rotted

That happened to the one I tried to plant outside last year.

I'm trying again inside this time!

[gojiberry]

I have just split and repotted last years ginger, didnt get a crop but increased from 1 to 3 pots so will get a crop this year. It is on a heated bench so is kept frost free. I grow it in the black Morrisons buckets and it has top growth about 2ft tall.

Ian

[Alice]

The ginger I've been growing in a pot has done quite well this year.
It made about 6 stems 2' feet tall.
Around Christmas it started to die down as expected. I'm leaving it to dry out but it still has 1 quite strong srem left.
Anyday now I can empty it out and see what's in there.
If the crop's no good I'll just replant.

[Snadger]

The ginger I've been growing in a pot has done quite well this year.
It made about 6 stems 2' feet tall.
Around Christmas it started to die down as expected. I'm leaving it to dry out but it still has 1 quite strong srem left.
Anyday now I can empty it out and see what's in there.
If the crop's no good I'll just replant.

Is it only the roots you can use Alice. I've heard of stem ginger that's all?

[adjohnson1971]

What superb timing!! I went to B&Q today and they were selling the usual seed potatos, onion sets, rhubarb etc, all reasonably priced. Anyway the wife saw they were selling root ginger and as we use it quite alot in our cooking said " lets try it", however what they are selling is a piece of root ginger in compost for £3. I said that i'm sure you can use the stuff bought in supermarkets for a fraction of the price. Well this post has answered that.!!!!!!!!!!http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ies/tongue.gif

[Alice]

You're right ADJohnson, there's no need to buy those roots in B & Q. I saw them too. Just buy a bit from the supermarket and look for little green bumps coming off it, Sometimes the supermarkets cut them off
Don't plant unless you see some signs of growth - likely a waste of time.
It can help to soak the ginger in tepid water before planting.

Snadger, sorry I don't know anything about stem ginger. If I get some tubers I'll be happy.

[Alice]

Snadger, looks like stem ginger is just young ginger preserved in sugar.