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

16 Nov 20, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Go to the ginger page, set the climate zone to semi arid and read the whole article here about growing it.
11 Nov 20, Jay Singh (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Can I plant ginger in pots in November?
19 Oct 20, Matthew EVERITT (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
My property is in Northern Burg at 5000 feet with deep Hutton soil. Acid and well leached. 800mm annual rainfall. Phosphate deficient. What would I need to do to cultivate Ginger Maize needs about 6t of lime and 6t phosphate per ha
20 Oct 20, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Are you doing a home garden?. If home you need to seek some advice from agricultural company about amending your soil so it is suitable to grow ginger.
17 Sep 20, Partap singh (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i would like to know that is Griffith NSW is good area to Grow ginger please.
10 Oct 20, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
You might find this article useful https://planyourpatch.com/how-cold-hardy-is-ginger/
18 Sep 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
No you need warm temps for it.
07 Sep 20, Dee (Canada - Zone 8a Mild Temperate climate)
Hi, in my 8a zone do I need to plant ginger in a pot always, or can I have it planted directly in the ground? And if I can plant it in the ground, when is the best time? I planted a few store bought ginger, and they are starting to grow about 15cm tall in a pot, do I need to move it to bigger and dipper pot? Thank you for answering my questions.
29 Oct 20, Anonymous (Canada - Zone 8a Mild Temperate climate)
Ginger is a warm/hot weather crop. When you go to a vegetable in your climate zone and there is no recommended planting months it means you probably can't grow it where you live. Read up about how to grow it on the internet. Can grow in the ground or pot. A pot probably about 40-50cm would do.
21 Aug 20, Piet van Vreden (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can you give me the total hight that the ginger plant grow under normal growth
Showing 131 - 140 of 487 comments

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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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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