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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06 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant about 2-3
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27 Aug 17, Geoffrey Page (Australia - tropical climate)
I trying to grow ginger in a large pot but seen to-be doing to well how high does grow my only about 6" high
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28 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Google - ginger plants - they seem to grow to about 18-24" high. Read about how to grow it. Regular fert each month - not one big hit of fert.
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28 Aug 17, Geoffrey Page (Australia - tropical climate)
Sorry word that last comment wrong ginger is not doing well struggling is there a particular fertilize required
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29 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A general all round fertiliser has about 10-12% N, 4-5% P and around 12-14% K for growing vegetables around here (Bundaberg) . Only way to know is do a soil test. If you dig up some ground put some dry matter (dry grass, manure, leaves etc and some fert and lime and give it 3-4 mths to all rot down you should have a reasonable soil. see how you plant goes in the next few months with the warmer weather.
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24 Aug 17, Sam (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I purchase ginger direct from the farmers to supply in Durban
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08 Aug 17, Ken Lloyd (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi There, Where in the South West of Western Australia can I buy good young ginger to grow in pots
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10 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I don't grow it but would suggest you ask a green grocer or nursery about it. Bunnings might even have it.
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15 Jul 17, mick (Australia - temperate climate)
I had my first attempt at growing ginger late last year and harvested my first crop a month ago. Amazing and the taste was nothing like what you purchase in the shops. I will be replanting shortly and will then keep a permanent clump on a rotating basis. I have not bee so lucky with my galangal. Got a fair result and then split up the next season but lost almost all of it. It might have been too dry. Currently have plants growing which have been better located and on mounded soil. They are supposed to have yellow leaves as the middle of winter at present but the galangal is emerald green with no sign of having a break for winter. Maybe the roots remember last season and are making up for their poor results.......... Looking forward to trying this crop as well.
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19 Jun 17, Andrew (Australia - tropical climate)
What is the required annually rainfall for ginger in the tropics?
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Showing 301 - 310 of 489 comments
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We live in the Spencer Gulf area of South Australia, we have been growing Jarvanese Ginger for 5 years in a large 50ltre pot, in an acid potting mix. The ginger family has a large range, the familiar variety that is at the store when grown has a narrow leaf, where the curcumin, types have a broader leaf. The variety we have grown is known as SPECIES- Curcuma-Zanthorrhiza, FAMILY-Zingiberates,GENUS-Curcuma: Known as "Temulawak"-Jarvanese ginger it has broad leaves and grows 2 to 3 mitre in a pot, has a beautiful lavender flower when it blooms, requires high humidity and well shaded. We have it underneath banana palms in a pond area, plenty of water in the growing period, in a well draining pot. It has been in bloom since beginning of december. Once you have it growing well do not disturb it for at least 4 years, once the ginger plant dies down just keep the pot slightly moist until the shoots come through again at the begining of summer it is usually the last ginger plant to come through. To harvest just move the mulch to show the root and gently remove a piece, do not dig it up they do not like being disturbed, they live just below the surface under the top of the soil, they really are a pampered pet for us, as we live in a dry arid area, we keep it for its beauty not for eating it is too delicate. I hope thus helps you in your quest.

- Brenda Groffen

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