Appreciated by foodies and fans of Asian cuisine, ginger is known for its culinary qualities and medicinal virtues. Ginger, a tropical plant native to Asia, grows from its rootstock, used as a spice or accompaniment. Grated, chopped or sliced, it livens savoury dishes, desserts and sushi with its sharp, lemony flavour. A young ginger plant likes heat (around 25 °C) and humidity, and produces long green leaves that can reach one metre in height. If you wonder how to plant ginger, know that it is perfectly possible to grow ginger indoors or outdoors, provided its needs are met. Whether you want to to grow ginger in ground or plant ginger in a pot, follow our practical advice. Discover our tutorial to germinate ginger rootstock easily at home!
Choose and prepare young ginger plant
Choosing a ginger plant
- Select fresh, firm, well-fleshy ginger rootstocks, preferably bearing small buds.
- To germinate ginger rootstock successfully, avoid rootstocks that appear dried out.
- You can buy ginger from promesse de fleurs or in the fruit and vegetable section of a food store. Prefer rootstocks cultivated organically.
Preparing ginger rootstock for germination
- Some recommend rehydrating the rootstock on arrival by soaking it in a container of lukewarm water for 24 hours before planting.
- Before planting, start by germinating the ginger rootstock by placing it above a glass of water, with the root half-immersed. Use matches or cocktail sticks stuck into the rootstock to hold it in place, like for avocados.
- Ginger can take between 5 and 15 days to begin germinating, depending on temperature. The warmer (around 22–28 °C), the quicker the germination. The piece of ginger should also be well exposed to light, without direct sun.
When to plant ginger?
- For container culture (recommended), ginger rootstock is best planted in spring, from March to June. It can however be planted at any time of year.
- For in-ground culture (only in regions with hot summers), germinate the rootstock in February–March then plant in ground in May once soil is sufficiently warmed.
Ideal conditions to grow a young ginger plant
Once your ginger has germinated, it will appreciate being planted in a light, well-draining soil or substrate. A young ginger plant needs a sunny or semi-shaded position to develop well. Its culture requires high temperatures, around 25 °C. It can only be grown in ground in regions with sufficiently warm summers. Elsewhere, it is essential to plant ginger in a pot.
How to grow ginger in a pot?
Ginger, a frost-sensitive plant, is ideally grown in a pot if your climate does not allow planting directly in the garden.
Required equipment
- 1 germinated ginger rootstock
- Large, deep pot at least 30 cm in diameter
- Compost
- Sand
- Mister
Step-by-step technique
- Choose a large, deep pot, minimum 30 cm diameter, with drainage holes.
- Place a layer of gravel or clay balls at the bottom of the pot to ensure good drainage.
- Fill the pot with a well-draining substrate made from a mix of compost and sand.
- Place the germinated rootstock on the surface, covering it halfway with soil. Buds that are not yet green should also be covered with soil.
- Water, then keep compost moist but not waterlogged to avoid rot.
- Place pot in a warm, humid atmosphere, with temperature close to 25 °C, similar to a heated greenhouse.
- Green shoots will appear in about a month. Once well developed, increase watering frequency to keep substrate slightly moist.
- When weather is fine, move pot outdoors to light, but avoid direct sun.
- Indoors, place pot near a window but without direct sun, for example behind an east- or west-facing window. It is also possible to place the young ginger plant near a south-facing window fitted with a voile.
How to plant ginger in the garden?
Required equipment
- 1 germinated ginger rootstock
- Hand trowel or transplanting trowel
Step-by-step technique
- When your ginger has germinated, with shoots and roots emerged, transplant to ground if soil is sufficiently warmed.
- Water young ginger plant more generously once stems are well developed.
How and when to harvest your own ginger?
- You can harvest new rootstocks when stems of your young ginger plant turn dry and yellow, about 6 to 9 months after planting.
- Carefully dig up rootstocks.
- Cut stems and roots, then wash rootstocks under water to remove soil.
- It is preferable to consume ginger fresh and not keep it too long to preserve flavour. It can however be stored in the refrigerator or frozen.
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