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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24 Jun 19, Jan Montague (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Do you have to wait till the top has died down before harvesting? I'm not sure what to do as there is some older growth but one new stalk has come through.
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26 Jun 19, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Read the notes here again.
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17 Jun 19, Susan Du Plooy (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I want to start growing ginger .... near Bronkhorstspruit Gauteng
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11 Jun 19, Taryna Koo (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Young ginger will taste mild while old ginger will taste more fiery. When you harvest your ginger root, was it the 'young' or 'old' part of the root?
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10 Jun 19, ambrosio dante brito (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Perth WA, I like to know when is the best time to plant Ginger from Rhizome. Many thanks
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11 Jun 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
Perth is temperate - in temperate it says can't grow in WA. If you read about ginger it says warm weather - so obviously you would plant in warm part of the year - like late spring early summer.
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31 May 19, Janet austin (Australia - temperate climate)
Ginger I take out of pot in cooler months use and store good noddles .in paper bag...re pot when warmer....if you leave in pot over winter in garden ..will they survive...if not what is the best way to store....and I do the same above with turmeric...thank you ..jan
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03 May 19, Paul Tan (Australia - temperate climate)
1) when is the best time to plant ginger in Melbourne? 2) How can I replant the unused from previous harvest? 3) Should I store my ginger in fridge or in cool dry area?
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21 May 19, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
Don't pull the plant out. Just dig a little and break off a piece of root as you need it.
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19 Apr 19, michael (Australia - temperate climate)
We live on the NSW Central Coast. I had a disastrous year growing ginger this year and most did not shoot. I also grew Galangal which struggled all summer and winter but is now powering on like there is no tomorrow. Does anybody grow Galanga? If so then when is the best time to dig up and divide rhizomes and/or use some for cooking?
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Showing 211 - 220 of 487 comments
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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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