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

03 Aug 16, Ken (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What is "hidden ginger?". Is it also edible? I have grown ginger in containers for some years. Generally I have only had small rhizome develop. What should I do to increase their size? Thanks for all your help. Ken
19 Jul 16, Busi Zulu (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can ginger grow in durban
26 May 16, bongie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
im in the eastern cape.... when is the best time to plant ginger
25 May 16, Elize (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Im staying in Limpopo warmbath when is the best time to plant ginger here
20 Apr 16, LIMPHO (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi and good day, I hereby asking if ginger can grow in Free State South Africa and in which season of the year? Thank You.
07 Mar 16, Tamara (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Would like to enquire what is the best month to plant ginger in Cape Town, Western Cape. Thanks
03 Jun 15, Dolf weyers (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Where can I buy ginger seeds
07 Jul 15, hennie Mulder (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Ginger are grown from the root you can buy at any green grocer just check that it has at least one bud at the tip if more than one bud is present them the root can be separated
11 May 15, Karen van der Walt (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I am also in Gauteng. Will it grow outside seeing that we get frost in the winter?
07 May 15, annette gideoni (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
what is the best way to store ginger for the next season
Showing 111 - 120 of 150 comments

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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