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 New Zealand - cool/mountain regions

  • Plant pieces of fresh root showing signs of shoots. Best planted at soil temperatures between 20°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 cm 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

28 Sep 19, Daan Erasmus (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have tried for months to grow ginger from shop bought ginger. Nothing. Zilch. Please help.
30 Jul 20, Natalie (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I have freshly harvested ginger with roots still attached and I get a very big crop from these ginger.
17 Oct 19, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Most ginger and also chilli and garlic bought in the shops are radiated for pests/diseases. This will also make the ginger/garlic/chilli seeds sterile.
22 Sep 19, Palo Mphethi (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
How do i get ginger seed?
12 Nov 19, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
You plant a knob of it. (One with a shoot helps)
28 Aug 19, Andrew Macdonald (Australia - tropical climate)
I have 2 large 2 metre square sq ginger plants. I want to trim off the dead leaves. can I burn ...set fire to the ginger plant and burn off all dead leaves.
19 Aug 19, lyric (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
what is the cultivar of the edible ginger. what type of diseases and pest that affect ginger.
17 Aug 19, Johanita (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I live near Hartbeespoort, and bought fresh ginger at Jasmyn - I'm going to try if it will grow!
01 Aug 19, Ian (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Have you any advice on soil pH for ginger?
01 Aug 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
A pH of 6.5 should be good for ginger
Showing 201 - 210 of 494 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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