Growing Ginger at Home
I just LOVE ginger, gingersnaps, gingerbread, gingered beef, anything with ginger in it. I use fresh ginger, powdered ginger and crystallized ginger. Crystallized ginger finds it’s way into just about everything I bake from scones to cobblers and we love it on our oatmeal! Every time I go to the health food store I pick up a big knob of ginger root to use in cooking and in teas.
I tried last year without success to start some ginger to grow as a houseplant. This spring I decided to give it another go. If I’m going to have houseplants, they may as well be edible! I searched around on-line, read a few different articles, all with different instructions and finally settled on a plan. (I didn’t follow the instructions I tried that failed last year). This is what I did.
Pick a few rhizomes that have some buds on them. You’ll notice the greenish buds on the tips of the rhizomes, they’ll look like little starts almost. Make sure you pick plump, healthy looking roots and break them into chunks that have a few good buds each. If they’re shriveled and dry they most likely won’t start. Soak the ginger overnight in water.
Fill a large pot, at least 12″, with good potting soil and place the rhizomes on top of the soil with the buds facing down. Press the rhizomes gently into the soil and water thoroughly. Place in a warm sunny spot in the North and in a warm shady spot in the South. Ginger is a tropical plant so it likes the heat, but from what I read dislikes full sun in hot climates. Mine is in full sun here since the afternoon sun in Ohio is much different than the afternoon sun in Florida. Cover with plastic or a cloche to keep the humidity levels up.
Keep the container well watered and be patient. It can take a long time for the plants to show above the soil. As long as they don’t look dried out and withered they should be OK. It took 3 months for one of my rhizomes to start showing signs of growth above the soil. I planted these on March 16 this year. Two weeks ago, I went to water the ginger and I noticed this lovely shoot. So far only one of my rhizomes has sprouted a shoot above the soil level.
I’ve read that it takes about a year for the plant to grow roots big enough to harvest. I’ll make sure to blog about my harvest next March! I have another knob in the cupboard that has some nice buds on it, so I may plant it soon. I don’t think one pot of ginger will be enough for our ginger needs! I’m also starting a lemongrass plant, more on that soon.
Have you ever tried to grow ginger or any other tropical spices? Any luck?
Filed under Miscellaneus | Comments (19)
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to Tweets that mention Growing Ginger as a Houseplant | Chiot’s Run — Topsy.com's comment
It takes patience to grow ginger!
pam´s last blog ..Quick Pickled Cucumbers
to pam's comment
Very cool. I tried ginger once (a pineapple ginger) but it never made it. I may have to give this a try this winter when I can’t do anything outdoors.
Dave´s last blog ..Huskers Red Propagation – The Easy Way!
to Dave's comment
I would love to grow ginger. I’ve been reading lots of articles about it, hoping to get it started, but I live in Northern California and it’s chilly here much of the year. I thought about setting the pot next to our fireplace to keep it warm, but that’s a good idea about using a cloche to maintain humidity. Great post!
to Chandelle's comment
Yes, that’s why I’m growing it as a houseplant, hopefully it works.
to Susy's comment
Tried it once and got a plant, I believe, but then lost interest. It’s on my “someday again” mental list. It would have to manage outdoor temps, though, as our house is chilly half the year.
to stefaneener's comment
Where did you get that little mini greenhouse? I’d love to have one of those.
Lisa´s last blog ..Child Full Apron- Size 5-8
to Lisa's comment
I got it many years ago at Target. It comes with a copper bottom piece as well so you can grow tiny plants in it. If you keep your eyes peeled you might be able to find one during the gardening season at stores.
to Susy's comment
I am growing lemons in my office right now but never tried much else. In 2 years, I have taken 1 lemon…but it was a good one!!
warren´s last blog ..81 pounds
to warren's comment
We use a lot of ginger, so last fall I decided to grow some and planted two large pots with three small rhizomes in each pot. I wish I knew I was supposed to plant them with the buds facing down. I planted the rhizomes vertically with the buds pointing up, deep in the soil too. For months nothing happened and I thought they had died but early this year they sprouted. Now each pot has about a dozen growths, one to two feet tall. They are in a spot where they receive full sun most of the day. Maybe I should move them to a shadier area.
to lee's comment
How awesome and not surprising of you Susy! I have a hardy ginger plant which thrives in our cooler, moist maritime climate. You eat the shoots which look just like your little one. It’s a perennial so I’ve placed it on the side of the house where it can spread with abandon. In the fall you also eat the flowers which are considered a delicacy in Japan.
Sustainable Eats´s last blog ..Simple Lives Thursday Blog Hop
to Sustainable Eats's comment
Hardy ginger sounds wonderful. I’ve always thought about getting some for the garden.
to Susy's comment
Way cool.
I love ginger.
MAYBELLINE´s last blog ..Bountiful Harvest
to MAYBELLINE's comment
I tried to grow ginger once but…. no joy. I have always planned to try my hand at it again because, like you, we like ginger very much.
Leigh´s last blog ..Colors of July
to Leigh's comment
Well to be honest the ginger will be ready in 9 months. I grow it. I do mine in a pot and don’t let it freeze or that is it. It also doesn’t like temps below 55. It’s hard to do in MO. But I grew it. This year I’m growing horseradish….love that stuff. That takes 18 months. They are all worth the wait.
Jane´s last blog ..Hot Garlic Dill Pickles- for Tigress Can Jam
to Jane's comment
Thanks for the inspiration today, Susy. I absolutely love ginger in any shape or form, it’s just something that I’ve never thought to grow. I appreciate seeing that it can be done!
Morgan G´s last blog ..Petro Essences- The Story of Cosmetics with Annie Leonard
to Morgan G's comment
We use so much ginger in our home — I really NEED to try to grow some!
On a hunt for rhizomes now!
Marlyn´s last blog ..Kitchen happenings
to Marlyn's comment
Very cool. It seems that patience is key here. I probably would have given up after a month or so… If your plants produce roots, I might just have to try this.
Jackie´s last blog ..Is Bella really a Brahma or not
to Jackie's comment
I love ginger too and as a new gardener 6 years ago it was high on my wishlist. And then I read up on it and thought ‘all that effort just to dig it up for the root?’. I went to the Winter Gardens in Aberdeen last week and they had a ginger plant in the tropical house – it was enormous and nothing like I expected it to be. Zingiber means ‘horn shaped’ and apparently derives it’s name from the rhizomes looking like deer antler!
nic@nipitinthebud´s last blog ..from plot to pan and back again
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