How to Plant and Grow Ginger
You can even plant the knob you bought at the supermarket and enjoy home-grown ginger all year long.
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If you love the taste of ginger and enjoy the presence of house plants, you may want to try your hand at growing ginger indoors.
Ginger can be easily grown in your home and harvested year-round with very little effort. The spicy, potent herb is a popular ingredient in sushi, stir-fry recipes, soups, smoothies and teas. Plus, it just so happens to be a beautiful house plant.
Although ginger can take a while to grow, all you need is a cutting from a healthy root, rich soil and a container. Here’s how to get started.
How to Plant and Grow Ginger Choose the Best Ginger Root for Indoor Growing
Set yourself up for succcess by choosing the best type of ginger for indoor growing. Fortunately, the same ginger root you buy at the supermarket for culinary purposes is all you need to grow your own; it just needs to be of great quality.
Similar to garlic and potatoes, conventional ginger is irradiated and treated to stop it from sprouting at the supermarket. Purchasing an organic, untreated ginger root will allow you to take it home and grow all year round. You can also purchase ginger roots at local nurseries, garden centers, farmers or seed companies.
Choose a root that is smooth, not shriveled, and has several nodules; the “nodes” or “eyes” are where the sprouts will emerge. (Similar to the nodes you see on potatoes).
The skin on the nodes should be light-colored and thinner. Forego pieces with darkened nodes. Depending on how much ginger you are looking to plant, you only need to purchase ginger about the size of your thumb. If a smaller size isn’t available, simply cut the healthiest-looking thumb-sized chunk of a larger root.
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Plant Ginger In a Large Container
Ginger requires a lot of room to grow and grows horizontally. Horizontally growing roots are called rhizomes. Aim to plant in a pot that is at least 12 inches deep and wide. Given the space, planting a chunk of ginger root the size of your thumb will easily grow to fill a 2-gallon pot over the course of about six months. Choose a container that allows for three inches (or more) of soil around the roots and is well-draining.
As the greenery grows from the nodes and out of the soil, sleek and charming leaves will emerge.
Investing in organic, well-draining soil with healthy microbes and fertilizer will benefit your ginger greatly. You can always ask your local greenery which soil and fertilizer are best.
Place the ginger root in the pot with the nodes pointing up; (these shoots will form the aerial foliage of the plant-like stems) and cover the root with about one to two inches of soil. Water lightly.
Your ginger root should be completely under the soil. If the ginger is still visible, it might be left bare after continuous watering; you can add more soil if needed. This is also called hilling the soil.
If you’re planting more than one ginger root in your container, provide a spacing of six to eight inches in between each piece which will require a pot much larger than 12 inches.
Due to the size of the pot needed to grow ginger, you may want to choose one that is decorative and fits the style of your home.
Tips for Growing Ginger Indoors
Plant care for indoor ginger is easy. Place your newly planted pot in a warm spot that provides filtered sunlight. Bright indirect sunlight serves best. Water regularly, but not too much – don’t water to the point of sogginess. Check the soil moisture level by sticking your finger one inch deep into the soil. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water.
It should take two to three weeks before you see sprouts emerging from the soil, and before you know it, the gorgeous greenery will make its appearance and you’ll be closer to enjoying the warm flavors of ginger.
How to Harvest Your Ginger (And When)
Harvest your ginger when the leaves turn yellow and are dried; this will be about eight to 12 months after planting. Wilting stems is another indicator that your ginger is ready to be picked.
To harvest, hold the greens at their base where they emerge from the soil, and gently lift the entire ginger root from the soil.
If you’re looking to enjoy small pieces of ginger long before full harvesting time, they can be had after a few months. To do this, gently move the soil at the edges or sides of the pot to find ginger. Cut the desired amount off a stem towards the edge of your pot. After harvesting, fill that area with soil to encourage more growth, and you can repeat this cycle to ensure you have ginger at your fingertips all year long.
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