Ginger - any tips?

[SarahStrawberry]

The other day in B&Q I noticed some of the garden stock was in and they had ginger so I bought one. The instructions say to plant in pots to start of with then plant out in a shady position in the garden in fertile, well drained soil and harvest in October and November.

Now, I'm just a bit worried that it won't be warm enough this far North even in the Summer for it to grow and then it will be too cold in October and November to harvest it. I know I should have read the instructions properly in the shop but I was a bit excited

Perhaps I should just start it earlier and keep it warm indoors or in polytunnel then plant it out and hope its ready earlier? Does anyone have any tips?

And also, how will I know when it's ready?

[ginger ninger]

This is from last year when some of us grew ginger...hope it helps.

How to Grow Ginger

Items Needed
Ginger Roots
Planting Container
Potting Soil
Fertilizers
Garden Trowels
Instructions (Growing Ginger in a Container)

1. Take a planting container that has a diameter of around 14 inches and is 12 inches deep. At the same time, it should have a good drainage system.

2. Soak the tubers in warm water and leave overnight.

3. Fill the container with potting soil, which has been enriched beforehand, with plenty of compost.

4. In the morning, set the tubers in the pot, just below the soil surface. Make sure to space them evenly and have the buds facing up.

5. Place the container indoors at a place that has good light. In the initial days following planting, water the container lightly.

6. As soon as you see the growth starting, water the plant more heavily. In the winter season, plants go dormant. So, you need to keep them dry.

7.Always keep the plant shielded from high winds. It will take around 10 to 12 months for the plant to reach maturity and grow to a height of 2 to 4 feet.

...or there's this..

How to Grow a Ginger Plant | eHow.com

Good luck...we all had lot's of fun

[SarahStrawberry]

Brilliant, thanks Ginger Ninger

[Cerinthe]

Hi
A visitor left a little knobbly bit of ginger on my kitchen worktop, I was moving it about all last winter until i potted it up early in the spring. It grow really well and had 3 shoots and 2ft tall but i kept it in the green house all summer.
The shoots have died down now and there is a lump of ginger about fist size so I'm hoping it will shoot again in the spring. You can just scrape away the compost and see the lump and if its big enough just brake a bit off, -I think-.
I haven't tried using any of mine yet, just interested to see how big it will grow. Not sure if there's an ornamental and edible ginger but some are supposed to have beautiful flowers.
If you have the option of keeping it warm I think it will do better so good luck with it.

[SarahStrawberry]

Thanks Cerinthe

[gojiberry]

I grow it every year in pots in the greenhouse. Have never had any flower and don't think you will in this country (anyone able to prove me wrong). Yield are moderate but I grow it mainly because I like to. I usually get my ginger from the supermarket to grow.

Ian

[Patchninja]

Mr P grown ornamental gingers that have beautiful flowers.