Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial native to India and China. The dark green leaves are born from a hard, thick, underground stem (rhizome). Its rhizomes are widely used for medicinal purposes and also as spices, especially in the Asian countries. Rhizomes are used fresh, dried, powdered, crystallized or canned, in sweet and savory dishes. Ginger tea is also very popular not just in Asia. Ginger is much cultivated in tropical gardens as an ornamental plant.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: GingerScientific name: Zingiber officinale
Plant type: Perennials
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 50cm - 1.5m
Spread: 10cm - 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Foliage color: Green
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden
Planting type: Containers & Pots, Flower borders and bedding
Climate
Ginger is a plant of subtropical and tropical climates, and can be grown in temperatures between 17°C to 35°C. The plant prefers a lot of air moisture. In colder climates, ginger can be cultivated sheltered or indoors in the colder months.
Brightness
Grow in partial shade or in direct sunlight.
Height
Ginger is a perennial herbaceous plant that can reach 1m in height.
Ginger plants growing in the garden
Soil
The soil should be well drained, light, fertile and rich in organic matter.
Watering
When the plant is growing, water often so the soil is always moist, but never soaked. When the leaves start to turn yeloow, decrease the watering frequency. If the crop is not harvested when the plant is in dormancy stop the irrigation until new shoots appear.
How to plant ginger
The ginger planting is done through pieces of rhizomes 3 to 5 cm long. These rhizome pieces, with one or two buds each, are planted at the definitive site in a depth of no more than 5 cm.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome
When planting in the garden, the spacing between plants can be 70 to 90 cm between planting lines and 30 to 50 cm between plants. Shortening plant spacing increases production, but turns harvesting more difficult, which usually ends up damaging the rhizomes. On the other hand, in mechanized plantations the spacing is usually larger, and the planting is done with double lines in spacing.
Ginger can also be grown in large pots. In cold winter regions, planting pots are ideal in domestic plantations. This allows protecting the pot indoors during the cold months of the year.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) growing in starter pot
