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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17 Oct 15, Belinda (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I live in Canberra. I am wondering of anyone has successfull grown ginger here, outdoor or indoor and has any tips please? Thanks!
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06 Oct 15, Karli (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi, i have some family that live in carnarvon wa who want to try to grow ginger on their property but they are unsure weather it will grow in their climate.. its mostly red dirt there. do you think it will grow ok?
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24 Jul 15, uday (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi guys. i have read all the posts . found it interesting. I live in Adelaide SA and want buy some ginger and turmeric to grow. Please help. Regards UDAY
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02 Jul 15, Karin (Australia - arid climate)
Does ginger tolerate winter frost and extreme summer heat?
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19 Jul 15, Prometheus (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Karin, Ginger is a tropical / sub-tropical plant, so for best results I'd recommend trying to reproduce this climate as much as you can. In a desert or semi-desert climate they should be overwintered inside - they will probably die off if you expose them to anything worse than a very light frost. Over Summers, provided that you give them a sunny position sheltered from the extremes of heat and ensure they are watered frequently, you may find it is very productive for you. I'd wager that a spot that gets plenty of morning sun and afternoon dappled shade would be ideal.
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23 Jun 15, Gab (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Daniel. We're on the Central Coast, NSW, & we successfully grow ginger over summer. It's died off now though, so we'll buy another piece from the supermarket next spring & start again.
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12 Oct 15, Colette (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, we are in the Sydney Hills district. I assume if you have been successful, I can try too. Is it too late to plant now?
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01 Dec 15, Aaron (Australia - temperate climate)
Collette, i live in the hills too and planted an old knob of ginger from woolies in a pot in October. It's only just started shooting now so yeah we can do it. How well it grows may be another issue.
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22 Jun 15, Daniel (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Has any one grown ginger on the Northern Rivers of N.S.W with any luck. We have a sub-tropical climate zone.
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14 Nov 15, akuli (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When i lived in Iluka on the Clarence it grew beautifully.
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Showing 401 - 410 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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