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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12 Sep 14, Lee (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Ginger from any grocery store can be used. I believe even old rhizomes are ok as they start to form sprouts as they mature. Try to get from a smaller veggie store as the larger ones put most of their veg in cold storage for awhile
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21 Aug 14, Calvin (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can a bag of grass compost mixed with chicken manure be used to plant ginger or is the mixture not compatable?
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04 Aug 14, Hannalie de Bruyn (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am farming in the Highveld area with cold winters. Where can I buy ginger plants or seedlings in Gauteng area. Is it better to put up a tunnel for growing ginger in our area? Hannalie
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19 Feb 15, Jacques Jacobs (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Good day Hannalie. It is always better to grow in a tunnel. "Tip" to heat the tunnel up in winter: build your compost pile inside the tunnel. The heat from the compost pile can increase the temperature of your tunnel with up to 10*C.
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30 Jul 14, John Smith (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
How many edible variiety of ginger is available in S.A and where to find them .I live in cape town I am also interested in tumeric tubers. Please advise Best regards JRM Smith's
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19 Mar 15, Helen Swan (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I can get you turmeric
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28 Nov 16, marry (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Helen Swan, I'm also looking for turmeric can you also help me please.
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22 Nov 18, Rudolph Snyman (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have lots of tumeric plants I am from Kroonstad in the Freestate if you are interrested
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16 Feb 15, michael basson (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi John I use quite a bit of ginger and am interested in growing it. Where you successful growing ginger in Cape town? We live in Darling and our climate should be the same Michael
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12 Jul 14, slabbie (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I buy ginger plants or seedlings in Gauteng area. I`m farming on Moloto north east of Pretoria in the Rust Der Winter area which is very hot and i`ve got more tha enough water. Thanx Slabbie
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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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