Tuesday, February 6, 2018

How To Grow Ginger Rhizomes

By Douglas Wagner


Ginger rhizomes are the swollen root sections of herbaceous perennial plants. The root is used for many medicinal and culinary purposes today and has been done so for centuries. It is quite easy to grow as long as it is not exposed to frost or too much direct sunlight.

As a tropical plant, it does not like frost and prefers a humid climate. It should not be in direct sunlight all the time. Choose a spot with partial shade and some protection from strong winds. Soil needs to be rich and have good drainage. When buying roots from the grocery store, select ones that do not look too dried out and wrinkly. The little points at the cut off ends of the root are where the roots and shoots sprout from.

High quality soil is very important. Mix garden soil with an equal amount of compost. The compost provides the plant with nutrition and keeps water in while the garden soil ensures proper drainage. If soil contains too much clay or is very poor in quality, it is better to use potting soil.

Take the rhizome and cut it into sections. Make sure the sections have an eye or two as this will enhance chances of it taking. Allow the pieces to lie for one or two days before planting. This helps to prevent rot or infection because the cuts have a chance to seal.

The best planting time is in late winter or early spring. When planting the root, make sure that the bud is on top. Plant about two inches below the surface of the soil. If planting in rows, the roots must be planted about eight inches apart. If the ground is warm and moist, they tend to take very easily.

Water the bed after planting but just enough so that the soil does not dry out. Once the leaves are visible, water a couple of times a week. Reduce the amount of water immediately if soil becomes a bit soggy. Spray or mist regularly if air is particularly dry. The plant continues to grow until it reaches two or three feet in height.

Harvesting can take place once the leaves have fallen off. Harvesting small parts is possible by digging up the ends of the root, cutting off some to use and replanting. Patience is extremely important before deciding to harvest the whole plant. Once this has been done, separate what is needed for replanting and use the rest.

Once roots are replanted, cover with a thick layer of mulch. This insulates them from the cold and the mulch gives nutrients and keeps weeds away. This is a slow-growing plant and quick-growing weeds can easily take over. Do not expect to see flowers the year or two after planting or if a growing season is a short one.




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