Do you want to grow ginger at home? Here's everything you need to know about propagating the fiery spice from roots purchased at your local supermarket.
How long does it take to grow ginger?
Ginger takes around eight to 10 months to grow, if you follow the right steps. You can start to harvest the roots after a few months but, for the best results, it's best to leave them for their max grow time.
How to grow ginger
Ginger is a tropical plant that generally grows in warmer regions, but, despite this, it isn't impossible to propagate it at home in the UK. Looking to grow your own ginger at home? Take a look at the simple steps to follow below:
1. On your next trip to the supermarket, pick up a loose root of ginger (ginger rhizomes), which you will find down the vegetable aisle. Choose ginger that has small 'eyes' growing (similar to those on potatoes).
2. Next, cut your ginger into chunks. You can plant as many pieces as you want. Cut your chunk at a width of 2.5 to 3.75cm (1 to 1.5 inches). Make sure you leave the eyes on as this is where the root will grow from.
3. Once you have done that, leave your ginger pieces in a dry spot for the next few days. Somewhere warm, such as a conservatory or a windowsill, is good. Spread the pieces out so they are not touching.
4. Now, it is time to prepare your soil. If you can, mix soil with compost for the best results. Choose a pot around 30cm deep and fill with soil. You can plant them outside, too (but remember the weather is much cooler in the UK).
5. Place your ginger roots into individual plant pots and place in a shady spot. If placing them outside, leave a gap of around 20cm between each ginger piece.
6. Ensure you keep the soil damp, so water regularly. After around eight months, you'll hopefully have a supply of ginger — perfect for tea or cooking.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
Easy vegetables to grow: 7 fast-growing vegetables you can harvest in no time
Cress
One of the fastest-growing vegetables you can grow is cress. To grow your own, sprinkle cress seeds over the surface of a pot or sow in the ground quite close together (for example in a tight-knit row). Place on a kitchen windowsill or outside for the best results.
Sowing to harvest: 5-7 days
Lettuce
Lettuce takes around 21 days to grow, so you'll have a fresh green bunch of leaves in no time at all. Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express says: 'For the quickest results, sow the seeds very thinly spaced around 15-25cm apart. Cover the seeds over gently and pat the surface of the soil down. Water along the rows then keep the soil moist and weed-free as the seedlings grow.'
Sowing to harvest: 21 days
Radishes
Looking to grow your own radishes? These will take around three to four weeks and can be grown either in small pots on your kitchen windowsill or in garden areas. When placing the seeds in soil, make sure you sow them very thinly, spacing them about 2.5cm apart.
Sowing to harvest: 25 days
Spinach
To grow your own spinach at home, sow into rows about 30cm apart and set the seeds 2.5cm apart. Top tip: ensure you grow spinach in light shade during the heat of summer to avoid the leaves turning bitter.
Sowing to harvest: 30 days
Carrots
One of the UK's favourite vegetables, growing your own carrots will save you plenty of money in the long-run. While these generally take slightly longer to grow than others, you can still expect sweet, crunchy crops in just six weeks. Chris says: 'Sow into pots of potting soil, spreading the seed thinly over the surface, then cover with a thin sieved layer of compost'.
Sowing to harvest: 50 days
Dwarf green beans
Kids will love slipping on their gardening gloves and helping to plant tasty green beans. During the summer months, beans can be sown directly into the ground or into pots of potting soil (which is great if you have a balcony). Poke the seeds into the soil so they are 25-40cm apart. Water well and enjoy!
Sowing to harvest: 60 days
READ MORE: Gardening for beginners: 10 easy tasks to get started
Peas
Peas are a dinnertime staple and take almost no gardening experience to plant at home. They are a cool seasonal crop that flourish best in temperatures of around 13 – 18C. To grow your own, sow peas in two parallel lines in soil. Make sure your space them around 10cm apart. Then, cover with soil and water well.
Chris suggests: 'Remember to provide supports for your pea plants to cling to, and cover trenches with chicken wire or netting after sowing, as birds love to steal pea seed.'
Sowing to harvest: 60-70 days
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.SIGN UP
