Growing Ginger

Zingiber Officinale : Zingiberaceae / the ginger family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P P P P P P P P P  

(Best months for growing Ginger in Australia - tropical regions)

  • P = Plant root
  • Plant pieces of fresh root showing signs of shoots. Best planted at soil temperatures between 20°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 cm 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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10 Nov 16, Doug (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted some Ginger in July, just cut 3 nodes off the end off a piece of Supermarket Ginger.I thought it was dead and started to dig it up but noticed it had changed a dark red colour and was sprouting after a flush of rain, They are now 25cms high 10Nov16
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06 Nov 16, donald pelvin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
best way to sprout ginger please
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21 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Donald, when I plant ginger I plant it and just cover it with soil. Ensure there are buds on the rhyzome (root). keep it moist but not wet as it may rot. Now the weather is warming up it should sprout fairly quickly. Trust this helps. John
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09 Oct 16, Janet (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought a piece from supermarket Aus grown do I just put it in the ground whole or do I need to cut it in half , upright on its side etc first time grower all tips appreciated
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25 Sep 16, Graeme Hedley (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
should i soak the ginger inwater over night to help it sprout and is it the same with tumeric
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20 Sep 16, Angi (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hey. I live in Qld, is it too late to plant out some ginger..... When would it be able to be harvested please?
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18 Sep 16, Janice (Australia - temperate climate)
Can asarum the ornamental type not root ginger be grown in Victoria australia
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09 Sep 16, Geoffrey (Australia - tropical climate)
I live in Darwin would I be better to grow Ginger in the ground or pots our wet season we can get a lot of rain
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31 Jul 16, Sara (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in south west Sydney can grow it in the garden and when
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25 Sep 16, Michelle (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Sara, You can! I grew it for a couple of years in a pot when I lived in Panania (low-on-space-rental) and also the last few years in the Hawkesbury. It grows well in Sydney, we got a bumper crop from just 3 store bought pieces, harvested a year later. We would have gotten even more kgs if I have know it doesn't like direct sun, ours was a little sunburnt. We ended up making about 100 bottles of ginger beer and sharing them around :-) I'm going to plant again this weekend, close to a nice warm fence but out of direct sun. I'm also going to experiment with water loving herbs as a ground cover. I hope this will increase humidity and allow me a second crop for the space. Since ginger is upright, I can plant a companion ground-cover. Maybe strawberries or tarragon? Something that can handle lots of water. Cheers and happy gardening, Michelle
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Showing 181 - 190 of 254 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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