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

25 Apr 13, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Just wondering where your are, I'm in the Riverland SA and I have been growing ginger with a bit of success, however during summer 12-13 I had high temps and my ginger suffered, I lost all but one tuber, I'm wondering how you go through winter, I want to keep mine going through winter and leave it until this time next year, do I put it in a pot in as much sun as possible
28 Feb 13, Jess (Australia - temperate climate)
Is 'old ginger'the bit of ginger left in the soil the longest or do i dig up some 'young ginger' and wait for it to mature?
17 Jan 13, (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Would like to plant a large patch of ginger for the market, where can i obtain plant material/roots in south africa, and information on the growing of ginger in s.a
17 Jan 13, caroline o,reilly (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
where can i buy ginger plants, seedlings in south africa. would i be able to grow ginger in Komatipoort which is very hot and humid.
17 Nov 14, Joe (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Try the nearest Pick and Pay.
09 Aug 12, lebo (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
i would like to plant ginger and i am in gauteng - will it grow ? where can i get seeds or seedlings for ginger regards lebo
09 Aug 12, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Ginger is easiest to grow from a piece of root. If you can get a piece of fresh ginger root then you can start a plant from that. Just let it dry out a bit and start sprouting shoots, then plant a couple of cm deep so the shoots stick above the ground.
12 Aug 12, Lebo (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Chris, I want to plant for the local market, where can i get the shoots in large amounts Regards Lebo
10 Dec 13, Hendrik (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Lebo, one cannot usually buy ginger for planting in the way that you can buy for example onion seedlings. You will have to go to a market and look for fresh ginger with "growing buds" at the tips. Buy only ones that have small buds that start sprouting. Cut the ginger in piece with a few growing buds per piece and plant. You obviously have to buy a lot. Note that it seems ginger takes about 2 years to maturity or at least 5 months to first probability of harvesting. If you harvest in that way you will need to buy more "roots" or tubers to start with. Best to let it mature and then you will have enough to sell and continue your production.
21 Apr 12, anthea boden (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i would like to know if i can grow ginger in tasmania in winter . i have some sprouting ginger. how can i keep it alive? thank you Anthea
Showing 471 - 480 of 488 comments

Hi I’ve been be lucky with a super strong ginger plant food ginger not decorative) that has been growing for ~>6 months, and bringing up new shoots. The main plant is now flowering and still has vibrant green leaves. Is flowering good or bad? What should I do wait until the plant dies back?

- Rakesh

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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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