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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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.
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20 Sep 18, Rucha (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How long does it take for the shoots to emerge from planted rhizome?
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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.
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19 Sep 18, jeanneth (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Good day where can I buy ginger seeds. Kind regards Jeanneth
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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
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26 Aug 18, Marg (Australia - temperate climate)
I live on the sth coast nsw and my ginger was pot planted 2016. The spring of 2017 crop was not amazing so I used a little and replanted majority. Now Sept 2018 and I can feel the large clumps In the pot soil! Looking forward to harvest and repotting. Your site has been well presented. Many thanks.
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06 Sep 18, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been growing ginger in West Gippsland for a couple of years, but always in the hothouse! Same with Lemon Grass, Galangal, water chestnuts and Turmeric. Although I have seen others who manage these in warm corners of their verandah.
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27 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They don't recommend planting ginger in the temperate zone on this website so you are doing well. It is a warm climate crop so just remember that, if you have a poor year - probably had cool/cold weather. For more info google how to grow ginger.
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19 Sep 18, Bron (Australia - temperate climate)
Temperate Hunter is sub tropical ish now
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29 Jul 18, Ann Pulley (USA - Zone 6b climate)
I was wondering if it can be grown in zone 6b, in southern Missouri? Does it need anything special in winter?
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Showing 251 - 260 of 489 comments
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Hi Sara, You can! I grew it for a couple of years in a pot when I lived in Panania (low-on-space-rental) and also the last few years in the Hawkesbury. It grows well in Sydney, we got a bumper crop from just 3 store bought pieces, harvested a year later. We would have gotten even more kgs if I have know it doesn't like direct sun, ours was a little sunburnt. We ended up making about 100 bottles of ginger beer and sharing them around :-) I'm going to plant again this weekend, close to a nice warm fence but out of direct sun. I'm also going to experiment with water loving herbs as a ground cover. I hope this will increase humidity and allow me a second crop for the space. Since ginger is upright, I can plant a companion ground-cover. Maybe strawberries or tarragon? Something that can handle lots of water. Cheers and happy gardening, Michelle

- Michelle

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