Growing Ginger

Zingiber Officinale : Zingiberaceae / the ginger family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P P P P P P P P P  

(Best months for growing Ginger in Australia - tropical regions)

  • P = Plant root
  • Plant pieces of fresh root showing signs of shoots. Best planted at soil temperatures between 68°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 inches apart
  • Harvest in approximately 25 weeks. Reduce water as plant dies back to encourage rhizome growth.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Grow in separate bed
  • Ginger plant
  • Ginger ready to harvest
  • Ginger root
  • New shoots of ginger

Ginger is a warm climate plant. It can be grown indoors in pots in cool/temperate areas. To grow well it needs lots of water and nutrients. Prepare the soil by adding compost which will retain some moisture but not get saturated. Add a small amount of sand to ensure drainage. Water regularly in summer to keep moist. In a pot, in addition to watering to keep moist, water ginger about once a fortnight with a seaweed or other liquid fertilizer. This perennial will die down in autumn. Remove the dead leaves. In spring lift the root clumps and break them up into smaller pieces to replant.

Harvesting Ginger: You can harvest ginger root after the plant dies down in winter, digging around the plant to cut off a piece of the older root. The young root with shoots is the actively growing plant and should be left to resprout.

You can also carefully dig down under the plant through the growing season to cut off bits of the older root for use, just be careful not to disturb the rest of the plant too much.

Let plants become well established before harvesting - it is often best to wait until the second growing season.

Make sure that you have edible ginger. Ginger plants sold in nurseries are usually decorative varieties and not suitable for eating.

Ginger can be grown in pots. The best growing temperature is around 25 - 30 C (75 - 85 F)

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Ginger

Ginger root freezes well either whole or grated, and can be used direct from the freezer in most recipes requiring fresh ginger.

Your comments and tips

10 Sep 24, Mike (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Is it available to plant ginger in Limpopo, Capricorn
16 Jul 24, Glen Vanderwalt (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi, I would like to know where in South Africa I can find black ginger plant root to grow ,hoping for some advice.
21 Aug 24, Dave (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Try Sean at Living seeds, he might have that variant available when they are in season for planting. https://www.livingseeds.co.za/index.php?route=information/contact
05 Jul 24, Dhirajlal Daya BHIKHA (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Soil preparation planting Ginger in late winter/early spring. Is it advisable to place ginger in black/dark bags to encourage "eye" sprouting? I live in Durban, South africa with summer rains.
03 Jun 24, Marilyn (Australia - temperate climate)
My next door neighbour rips them all up, cuts them into sizeable pieces and freezes it. He's been doing it for years with no problems. I'll be doing the same.
03 Jun 24, Marilyn (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted bits of ginger I bought from the store. I thought it had died after a few months in the pot but no. It's thriving and putting up many new shoots. It's now almost a metre high. Just waiting for the leaves to die off so I can harvest. Hopefully that won't be too long as the leaves are yellowing now. Will this be OK to consume seeing as it's grown pretty well and ftom store bought?
29 Apr 24, Lungile Sibiya (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I started trying to plant a few ginger rhizomes during COVID 19 total lockdown in my backyard garden and they proved to be a good crop although I didn't add any fertilizer. A farmer saw it and is interested in growing it for commercial purposes since the market is increasing especially during and after COVID 19. Unfortunately, I don't have the actual costing for at least 1 hectare ginger crop. Kindly assist me with the Enterprise Budgets for 1 hectare Ginger crop if you have. Your assistance will be highly appreciated. Kindest Regards, Lungile Sibiya Production Scientist Department of Agriculture and Rural Development KwaZulu-Natal Province
11 May 24, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
This website doesn't give advise like that. Check with you agricultural department.
29 Apr 24, Mr Fin Fix (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I want plant Ginger
16 Dec 23, Ebrahim (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Need advice on growing ginger and garlic in Durban
Showing 1 - 10 of 487 comments

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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