How To Grow Ginger No Matter Where You Live

Planting Ginger

A good time to begin planting ginger in temperate climates is the end of winter. However, if you intend to keep your ginger indoors all year round then you can give this process a go any any time.

Simply choose a suitable growing medium (moist and humus-rich yet free-draining) and plant your ginger into this mix. It may be beneficial to allow the budding root sections to dry out before planting, to heal their wounds.

Plant root sections with green growth buds just protruding above the surface of the soil. You can plant into a seed tray and pot up when it begins to grow, or simply plant the ginger into the container you intend to keep it in.

Bottom heat may be beneficial and so you could consider placing your tray or container on a heat mat or in a heated propagator. However, providing it is warm enough, the ginger will usually take on a sunny windowsill.

When choosing containers for ginger, remember that this is a crop that you are growing primarily for the root. Tall, narrow pots are best as these will allow the fat roots to grow and delve deep as the buds start to grow.

Planting Ginger in a Warmer Climate

If you are in a warmer, subtropical or tropical climate, you can simply place your rhizomes into the soil where they are to grow. Ginger can be an excellent choice for inclusion in a forest garden scheme, tree circle, or other tropical polyculture.

In a subtropical or tropical forest garden, or a fruit or nut tree circle, ginger can thrive in the dappled shade beneath your trees. If you are using the permaculture concept of a tree circle (such as a banana circle, for example) ginger and taro can be excellent plant choices for the inner, wetter edge of the ring mound on which the trees are planted.

Related turmeric, cardamom and galangal can all be good companions for your ginger  plants. Ginger will thrive amid natural, native companions in moist, tropical settings. Natural companions include hibiscus, teak, palms, and orchids.

Caring For Your Ginger

Ginger plants require relatively high humidity. (Bear in mind that these plants naturally grow in a tropical rainforest.) This can be one of the major challenges when growing ginger indoors in a temperate climate.