Ginger
(gin·ger | \ ˈjin-jər \)
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Light Requirements: |
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Full Sun |
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Hardiness Zones: |
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Grow as Perennial in zones 9-11. Grow as Annual elsewhere. Find Your Zone |
About
Ginger is a flowering tropical plant native to Asia. It is well-known for being used in Asian cooking and herbal medicine for almost 5,000 years. Ginger was was a pricey commodity along the Silk Road throughout the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, a pound of ginger was worth as much as a whole sheep. Ginger was the first foreign spice to be grown in the "New World" (in 1585). Ginger is a stately plant and will look good in your patio containers as well as in the garden. It produces flowers with pale yellow petals with purple edges.
Highlights
- Easy to grow
- Garden fresh vegetables
- Perfect for raised beds and containers
- Lovely as an ornamental
- Great for cooking
Planting Care & Instructions
Choose a well-draining sunny location and plant in early spring or after the ground temperature warms to 50°F. Plant with roots growing downward and eyes (growing points) growing upward. Ginger takes about 8-10 months to mature, although rhizomes can be harvested any time after they start to form.
Growing Tips
Ginger grown in the home garden is thinner-skinned and more flavorful than the thick-skinned, mature roots available at the grocery store. Because of the thinner skin, homegrown ginger doesn't need to be peeled before use, with the trade off being that it won't last as long on the shelf and should be preserved.
