Where is ginger grown

These young tubers can be eaten fresh or preserved in vinegar, sugary water or sherry, for example. Young ginger is also perfectly suited for making ginger tea. Just add sugar and lemon to taste. Skip to main content. Grow it yourself: Ginger Little is known about how ginger first came to be cultivated. Historians think that the plant did not exist naturally in its current form, but was bred by humans.

These days, most ginger still comes from Asia. Ginger thrives best in warm, humid climates. Choose a site that provides plenty of light, including 2 to 5 hours of direct sunlight.

Ideal spots are also protected from strong winds. The best soil for ginger is loose, loamy, and rich in organic matter. Loamy soils allow water to drain freely, which will help prevent the rhizomes from becoming waterlogged. Thick mulch can also provide nutrients, retain water, and help control weeds. In early spring, plant parts of the underground rhizomes. Each piece should be plump with well-developed growth buds, or eyes. A good source of ginger for planting is fresh rhizomes from another grower.

If you are buying ginger from a store, soak the rhizomes in water overnight because they are sometimes treated with a growth retardant. Plant the rhizomes 6 to 8 inches apart, 2 to 4 inches deep, and with the growth buds pointing upward. They can be planted whole or in smaller pieces with a couple of growing buds each.

In the United States, both Chinese and Japanese ginger are grown in Hawaii and shipped to the mainland, though the majority of U. Ginger grows well in loose, calcium-fortified, fertilized soil at 5. Beds should be well drained to avoid root contamination and reduce disease and pests if soil is fumigated for nematodes, this can damage the rhizome and render it unsaleable.

Beds should also be mounded periodically to keep plants from turning and growing horizontally. Avoid weeds and other debris that can attract pests and damage shoots. Young ginger is harvested early, after a few months. To grow ginger from home, you simply begin by picking up ginger root from a grocery store. For edible purposes, the most common species of ginger is known as Zingiber officinal , although there are many others including ornamental flowering plants that can be found in store however these are inedible species and better suited for adding decoration to your home.

When the eyes have begun to turn green in colour they are ideal. We advise purchasing organic ginger when possible. Depending on how many ginger vegetables you want to grow in your garden , you have the option to cut the rhizome into multiple pieces.

This means that you will grow more ginger than one plant. Divide the original vegetable root up using a sharp, sanitised knife. As a general rule, any piece that sits at a minimum width of 2. After dividing up your root plant pieces with three or more eyes are more likely to sprout , leave the pieces in a safe and dry location for at least a few days — this will allow the ginger pieces to form a protective callus over the surface and heal, reducing the risk of infection.

Remember, each piece of cut ginger will require approximately 20cm 8 inches of space between them. For the best chances of success, use high-quality, well-drained soil. If your available garden soil is particularly poor or has high levels of clay, use a rich potting soil instead.