GINGER Zingiber officinale

Here in the U.S., for many people, the smell and taste of ginger are like a warm comfortable blanket reminding them of the care of a parent when sick with an upset tummy or the smell of cookies at the magical time of Christmas. It is in their favorite Asian dish, a flavorful beer or wonderful tea. While it isn't as prevalent in our food and drink as in other parts of the world, it is well appreciated as a food spice.

Ginger is a close tropical relative of cardamom and turmeric.

Growing

Ginger grows from rhizomes that can be harvested or split as soon as 4 months after planting, but mature usually around 10 months after planting. When split, the rhizomes need to be 2-3 inches in length with at least one eye. Any less than 2 inches, and you may not get a vigorous plant. When splitting the rhizomes, allow cut pieces to callous over for at least 24-48 hours before planting to avoid root rot. Plant about 1 inch deep. As it grows, you can cover rhizomes that appear above the soil line, but it isn't necessary. Like iris, these rhizomes like to be shallow.

What they do NOT like is temps below the 55-60 F range. They get really unhappy whenever exposed to temps below 55 and frost can kill them. A freeze definitely will. Growing in pots to bring in over winter or pulling the rhizomes at the end of summer allows you to keep your supply going.

Pests really like ginger, so I grow it in pots in the greenhouse. They prefer the moist hot conditions, and I'm happy to provide them.

Ginger likes slightly acidic, rich, loamy, well-drained soil and only a once weekly deep watering. They are an understory tropical forest plant and so need shade or at least partial shade conditions.

The rhizomes can be split for use or propagation as early as 4 months after planting, but are fully mature at 10 months. The rhizomes will continue to spread, but it is beneficial to the mother plant to have growth split off.

uses

Ginger makes a nice tropical house plant, but really, what we want is the SPICE. While it is a vegetable, it is most commonly used as a potent spice in fresh, paste, dried, powdered, oil or juice form.

The following are all equivalent to 1 gram of ginger:

• 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1 teaspoon grated raw ginger
• 4 cups water steeped with 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger

"Less raw ginger is needed when making tea because certain nutrients in ginger concentrate when heated." - Healthline

Ginger is NOT RECOMMENDED for children under the age of 2! 

Final Thoughts

While I'm a fan of ginger, I must say that after researching for this blog post, I'm making this veggie spice a much more important part of my diet. There really aren't any down sides of growing or eating it. It's easy to grow if you don't expose it to pests, stores well, and has endless uses. I am definitely on the ginger train...

sPECS

Zingiber Officinale

Type: Perennial

Uses: Flowering, ornamental, spice, medicinal, teas and other drinks

Hardiness Zone: 9-12

Height: 4 feet Spread: 2 feet

Life Span: Indefinite

Roots: Spreading rhizomes

Flower Color: N/A as flowers rarely appear

Leaf Color: Yellow-green

Fall Leaf Color: N/A, tropical and must be left out

Transplant: When temperatures are never lower than 55-60 degrees

Planting Depth: 1 inch or less, add soil over rhizomes as they grow

Spacing: 12 inches

Sunlight: Partial to full shade Water Requirements: Water deeply once a week

Soil Quality: Rich, loamy, well draining

Soil Chemistry: 5.5-6.5pH

Fertilize: When repotting/planting, add compost as needed for rich soil

Growth Rate: Fast

Attracts: None Critter Resistant: None

Critter Attractant: None

Harvest: 10 months for full maturity, 4 months for partial harvest

Pruning: Remove damaged or diseased leaves as necessary

Pests: Aphids, ants, mealy bugs, spider mites, cutworms, slugs, snails, soft scales, Chinese rose beetle, Fijian ginger weevil, cardamom thrips, army worms, yellow wooly bear caterpillar, fungus gnats

Diseases: Bacterial wilt, fusarium fungus, root-knot nematode,

Reseeds: No

Propagation: Split rhizomes into 2-3 inches pieces, no less, allow to cure for 24-48 hours to avoid root rot, replant

Garden Style: Tropical

Companions: Tropical plants that like the same soil pH

Allergy Potential: Rarely causes intestinal issues or skin irritation

WARNINGS: Juice can cause skin irritation, not for children under 2

https://gardenerspath.com/plants/herbs/how-to-grow-temperate-ginger/?fbclid=IwAR3jhUqB9BXRUky4IMeY4Gaf22xFKJgsB0gtP8e1fXyyAMWb3P78gl6mX6E

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-ginger#The-bottom-line