Growing Ginger

Zingiber Officinale : Zingiberaceae / the ginger family

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

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • 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

Your comments and tips

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
21 Dec 23, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Read the notes here about growing them or do some google searches.
28 Nov 23, Arthur Brown (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can ginger grow effectively in Johannesburg South that gets a summer rainfall?
06 Nov 23, Bridget kor (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
My ginger was growing well after getting a piece of my neighbours established plant. We have had a very wet winter and after dieing right back it has not resprouted. Neither had the neighbours. Did the wet do this? Should I lift the bulbs and replant it?
01 Sep 23, Marlene (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Perth WA. I planted my ginger over a year ago. The leaves are turning yellow. I have quite a few healthy plants in a half barrel pot. My question is:Do I need to dig up the whole lot or can I cut off a piece and replant the rest of the rhizomes? We are moving into summer.
06 Sep 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here about harvesting it.
28 Jul 23, dz (USA - Zone 10a climate)
the guide says for Zone 10A to plant ginger in Feb, but sometimes you just have to adapt as things occur. A couple of weeks ago (July), my wife handed me a piece of store bought ginger that had started to grow a shoot, so I put it in a small clean snack cup, added about 1/2" of water, and checked it daily, adding and/or changing water as needed, and in a couple weeks it had grown a lot of roots, and the shoot grew to about 4 inches and opened its third leaf, so this morning I planted it outside in a 5-gallon bucket and will continue to monitor it closely.
10 Nov 23, Eric (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I have a newly started piece of ginger growing. I am in zone 10 B and was wondering if it would do well through the winter outside or if I should bring it inside. Any insight is appreciated.
Showing 11 - 20 of 491 comments

Deby, I live in the Redlands area just outside of Brisbane and regularly grow ginger in my garden. Depending on how many plants you have in the pot they should be fine. I would recommend spacing them out at about one per 30 centimeters apart. You are doing the right thing keeping them watered but do not let them get waterlogged. Do not dig them up until the foliage has died down, around August/September. Then you can keep some for re-growing and the rest is for eating. It will freeze well and then just grate off what you need. DO NOT de-frost it as it will go to mush and be useless. It is also easy the dry and made into ground ginger. To dry it slice into 5cm pieces and dry in a dehumidifier. To grind it use a flour mill or a mortise and pestle.

- Bernie

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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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