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

20 Jul 19, Ismail (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Try the shongweni farmers market or store stocking local produce
29 Oct 18, Bernadette (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Any supermarket.
30 Sep 18, Omitton (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Actually am from Malawi am in searching of Ginger and Garlic seeds if possible to find it or is there any other way to find it or where can I find it? please contact me 0744720640
26 Sep 18, Annette Kaye (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I have grown ginger successfully for 10 years now. I started when a piece from the supermarket sprouted and so I planted it in the garden. It does extremely well here - in fact it is a pest and grows wild. My question is, the ginger I grow is not as hot as the ginger I buy. It is very mild. Why is that?
13 Oct 18, John (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Your older dried ginger is not as spicy? or are you comparing young ginger which is mild compared to older dried ginger? In Thailand you get dishes with fresh young ginger stir fried as a vegetable as it is nice and mild and not fibrous.
08 Oct 18, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Never grown it but it might have something to do with the variety or maybe too much water, Do some research on the net about varieties.
20 Sep 18, Rucha (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How long does it take for the shoots to emerge from planted rhizome?
03 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you plant at the right time it shouldn't take too long to shoot - 2-3 weeks max - depends on soil temp.
19 Sep 18, jeanneth (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Good day where can I buy ginger seeds. Kind regards Jeanneth
04 Sep 18, Mongi Dlamini (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi I'm in KwaDukuza, KZN. I need to get seeds or plants to grow in my garden. Please help I will appreciate your help. Thanks
Showing 251 - 260 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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