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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26 Mar 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant Oct to Dec.
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20 Mar 22, Dee (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I have been growing edible ginger in a large 16” pot for the last three years from organic store-bought ginger root. I live in SE Alabama where summers can get extremely hot, so I make sure they get partial shade. I harvested the rhizomes in November when the canes were turning brown and the rhizomes were large & plump. It is now mid-March and temperatures are ranging from mid 60s to upper 70s, so I will break apart some of the rhizomes and let them scab over and replant in fresh soil in the next week or two.
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12 Mar 22, Lorna (Australia - tropical climate)
I’m in tropical Nth Queensland, I’d rather grow my ginger in pots/ containers. What would be a suitable size & shape pots/containers to use please?
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16 Mar 22, Fiona (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Lorna I have grown Thai Ginger successfully in 300mm pot with well draining potting mix in Cairns. I just keep replanting a few pieces after harvest. I mince the ginger, then freeze it in zip locks, in a sausage shape. Easy to cut a bit off when you need it.
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15 Mar 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have never grown it but probably half a 200l drum. The smaller the pot the more critical the attention to watering and fertilising. Or half a 60l drum. Try at motor car servicing centers.
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15 Feb 22, pattatas (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Ginger is very expensive here in Tasmania at the moment. $65/kilo! How large do the pieces of 'root' with sprouting bud have to be to be viable? (I get them started in a small pot kept above the fridge which benefits from the extra warmth generated.)
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09 May 22, Toni (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Start with a piece about as big as your thumb. Don't plant until Summer in Tassie or the root will just rot.
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22 Feb 22, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'm Bundaberg Qld - someone here advertising on Facebook Market Place selling Ginger (he may have run out by now) $30/kg. You can have up to 5kg posted to you for $9.50 or $13. You would only get about 1.5-1.75kg in small bag and probably 3kg in bigger bag. I could find out their phone number.
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18 Feb 22, (Australia - temperate climate)
Ginger is a warm/hot climate crop.
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14 Feb 22, Ursula (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
We reside in Kwazulu Natal East Coast Sub Tropical Climate. When is the best time to grow ginger
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Showing 51 - 60 of 483 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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