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 USA - Zone 5a 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

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11 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
You say you are temperate and by this guide they don't suggest growing in temperate. Best grown in tropic and sub-tropic. Plants are pretty tough sometimes. 2 options, break some off and leave the piece in the ground exposed to the air to dry. Or don't water it for a few days/week or so.
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14 Sep 20, Sandy (Australia - tropical climate)
I grew ginger in an aquaponics set up in Perth. So it depends on where your temperate zone is. Full sun planted about now will give you results. Maybe not as good as tropical areas, but pretty good anyway.
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17 May 20, Sally (Australia - temperate climate)
May I plant ginger now — mid-May?
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23 May 20, Teresa (Australia - temperate climate)
Depending on where you live? It’s too cold for Melbourne now. Ginger should be planted in October.
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10 May 20, Sipho Babama (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Who are the suppliers of ginger seedlings or seed in south Africa? Any farm that i can visit that is currently planting ginger?
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11 May 20, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Type in where to buy ginger in south Africa in google. Some people say to use supermarket ginger.
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22 Apr 20, Gabrielle (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I'm in Knoxville, Tennessee. Can I grow ginger and will it return next spring/summer?
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22 Apr 20, M (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go to the 7a zone in USA and check the planting time. THEY do not recommend planting it. It needs warm climate.
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21 Apr 20, Rakesh (Australia - temperate climate)
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?
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22 Apr 20, M (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here about how to plant and grow it.The ginger plant and quite a few others die back in winter but shoot/grow again in the spring. Asparagus is very similar.
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You didn't say when you did this, but disturbing the ginger before it died off in winter was your problem. At the moment all its energy is going into maintaining the leaves. I would chop them off or at least by half if some are still good and it will then try to save it's roots and ,maintain the ginger corm. It should then send up new leaves when ready. Keep it moist but not wet so,it doesn't rot. If by winter nothing has happened, dig it up and check the corms are healthy, split if big and replant. Edible ginger is better every two years as bigger corms form, which is when I divide. It freezes in alfoil also. Fresh ginger can be harvested carefully anytime from side.Hope this helps.

- Chris

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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. Gardenate 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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