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 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

09 Jun 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Ginger needs a frost-free warm climate to thrive with good soil. It also needs a good water supply. If you can provide these conditions you could buy some ginger from a green grocer or fruit shop and plant them. refer to the notes on ginger for more advice.
29 May 17, Garry (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi ,my block is near wakerie south Australia. I would like to grow ginger, what kind of ginger would be appropriate for my farm. Thanks
30 May 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
By the calculation above you probably can't grow ginger there. Look at Veggies and herbs above - pick ginger - put in temperate climate and read about it.
30 May 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
There are two varieties of ginger available in Australia - 'Canton' and 'Queensland'. Canton is the most common. Just buy some rhizomes from a good fruit shop.
31 May 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown ginger in the Latrobe Valley and we get quite a few frosts. I would wait until Spring to plant it when the weather has started to warm up. Use a good sized tub to reduce the chance of big temperature fluctuations in the growing medium. Buy a piece of ginger from a green grocer that has a number of buds on it and is nice and firm. Plant it just below the surface and wait for a couple of weeks for it to emerge. Ginger and Turmeric like plenty of manure and moisture but will not tolerate wet, soggy soil or FROST. Putting a plastic tent or cloche over it in the Spring would help. A piece of silver builders insulation paper fixed to a frame behind it would also help by radiating heat. All the best.
15 May 17, Gugu Balfour (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi, my ginger yields very small rhizomes after the whole year on ground. What should I do to increase size of rhizome?
23 May 17, Chris (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi, have a look at the colour pink is good. Dynamite comes in small packages. Hope that is the case, busy with pickled ginger , have become addicted addicted addicted addicted.
15 May 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Adding lots of old, rotted manure and mulch will help. The manure will provide nutrients and the mulch will help save water. Ginger also needs a good supply of water to ensure good, plump roots.
09 May 17, (Australia - temperate climate)
I live i south Australia. I live in the Murraylands. I have bought some ginger which still have the tops on them. Can I plant them now. Or do I have to wait until September. If I have to wait., how do I keep the ones I bought for planting out in Spring.
10 May 17, Giovanni (Australia - tropical climate)
You could plant them now but if you have frosty winters you may be better to store them in a pot of damp sand until spring.
Showing 311 - 320 of 487 comments

Hi Lorna I have grown Thai Ginger successfully in 300mm pot with well draining potting mix in Cairns. I just keep replanting a few pieces after harvest. I mince the ginger, then freeze it in zip locks, in a sausage shape. Easy to cut a bit off when you need it.

- Fiona

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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. GardenGrow 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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