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

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13 Jul 18, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Ginger can be planted any time after frosts have finished if you have them. It really needs a good growing season so don't plant it in Autumn
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06 Jul 18, Pieter Wilken (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Why does my Ginger have a fibrous or stringy center? The rhizomes are a decent size.
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26 Jun 18, Meisie Helm (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can I plant ginger in Bethlehem Freestate South Africa
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12 Jun 18, Andrisa (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I order zingiber officinale root in South Africa?
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11 Apr 18, Marieta Fry (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can u grow ginger in a pot in April ?
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22 Mar 18, YUSSUF (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
why my ginger fail to grow
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12 Mar 18, Andre Bester (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
will ginger grow Hydroponic, what chemical must be used. want to plant in a tonnel
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30 Jan 18, Stanley van Der Berg (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
how to plant and when,wild mountain Ginger.
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27 Feb 18, Sheena (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Based on my personal experience, any time and just as long as there is an eye or shoot, just stick it in the ground facing up...my have always grown hassle free.
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24 Aug 17, Sam (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I purchase ginger direct from the farmers to supply in Durban
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Showing 91 - 100 of 150 comments
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Hi Sara, You can! I grew it for a couple of years in a pot when I lived in Panania (low-on-space-rental) and also the last few years in the Hawkesbury. It grows well in Sydney, we got a bumper crop from just 3 store bought pieces, harvested a year later. We would have gotten even more kgs if I have know it doesn't like direct sun, ours was a little sunburnt. We ended up making about 100 bottles of ginger beer and sharing them around :-) I'm going to plant again this weekend, close to a nice warm fence but out of direct sun. I'm also going to experiment with water loving herbs as a ground cover. I hope this will increase humidity and allow me a second crop for the space. Since ginger is upright, I can plant a companion ground-cover. Maybe strawberries or tarragon? Something that can handle lots of water. Cheers and happy gardening, Michelle

- Michelle

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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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