Saturday, March 17, 2018

How To Grow Ginger Rhizomes At Home

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 plant does not survive if it is exposed to frost. It loves warm weather but should not get more than two to five hours of direct sunlight or strong winds. Plant it in partial shade and make sure that the soil is rich and drains well. Waterlogged soil will make it rot. Start by choosing some roots from the grocery store. Make sure they have eyes or small points at the end of the fingers. These are the buds from which the plant grows. An organic product is best because it is not treated with any growth-inhibitors.

The plant thrives on high quality soil. Use a mix of one part good compost to one part of sandy garden soil. The compost gives nutrition to the plant and retains water. The sand makes sure it drains freely. Turn the mix into the soil with a spade. In cases of heavy soil, it is better to make a ridge or raise the bed to improve drainage.

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 time to plant is in early spring so as to take advantage of of the heat of spring and summer. A crop can take up to ten months to develop so patience is needed. Plant five to ten centimeters deep and about 30 centimeters apart. This is because plants need space to grow. As long as the soil is moist and warm, germination should occur.

The bed needs to be watered just enough for the soil not to dry out until leaves are seen. Soggy soil must be avoided as it quickly rots plants. If water is not draining properly, reduce watering or try to improve drainage. In its growth phase, a plant needs water once or twice a week. Regular spraying or misting may help if air is very dry. The ginger plant will grow to about two feet or so in height.

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.

Once roots are replanted, cover with a thick layer of mulch. This insulates them from the cold and the mulch gives nutrients and keeps weeds away. This is a slow-growing plant and quick-growing weeds can easily take over. Do not expect to see flowers the year or two after planting or if a growing season is a short one.




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