Growing your own ginger is surprisingly easy and super rewarding! Whether you want to plant it in your backyard or keep it in a pot on your patio, you can totally pull off a great harvest of this zesty root with just a few simple tricks.
Start Early for a Big Harvest
Ginger takes its sweet time to grow, so you’ll want to get a head start on the planting season. It takes nearly a full year for a single rhizome to branch out and grow new shoots. If you’re aiming for a fall harvest, you really need to get things moving indoors by January at the latest.
The coolest part? You can just use a piece of ginger from the grocery store! Just make sure to buy organic so you know it hasn’t been treated with growth inhibitors. Plus, if you grow it yourself, you’ll have a clean, natural remedy on hand that’s even safe to use for your dog’s health.
I recommend starting your ginger in a shallow tray first. This helps it develop a nice, wide root system without going too deep right away, which makes transplanting much easier later on. If you’re planning on keeping it in a container for its whole life, you can plant it directly into a pot with some nutrient-rich potting soil.
Caring for Your Ginger
Ginger is a thirsty, hungry plant. If you’re moving it outdoors, make sure to mix some well-aged compost into the soil first. Wait until the threat of frost has passed (usually around mid-May) to move them outside, and then start using a liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks.
Keep up that feeding schedule until the fall. Ginger also absolutely loves humidity! When you’re watering, feel free to give the leaves a little misting or a gentle “shower.” Just a pro-tip: always use lukewarm water. Cold water can actually shock the plant and stunt its growth.
Harvest Time
When autumn rolls around, it’s time to harvest. Since ginger is a tropical plant and can’t handle frost, you’ll need to dig it up just before the temperatures drop. If you have a greenhouse, you can leave them in a bit longer to let the roots get even bigger.
Even though the thin roots go deep, the thick rhizome (the part we eat!) stays pretty close to the surface. You can usually just pop it out of the ground easily with a garden fork.
Try to wait for a dry spell to do your harvesting. It’s much easier to lift the roots out of dry soil, and you won’t have to spend as much time scrubbing off mud. Once they’re out, store your fresh ginger in a cool, dry place, and you’re good to go!
