Growing Ginger

Growing ginger is easy and rewarding for gardeners looking to try something new. Because you don't typically see ginger seed for sale, and in fact it is rarely grown from seed, it's usually not first in mind for gardeners to grow.

That doesn't mean it's not a great plant to try your hand at, if you can provide it with the right conditions and have the patience to wait the ~9 months it takes!

Let's look at the conditions needed for ginger to thrive...

Ginger Growing Conditions

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is native to Southeast Asia, where it grows in humid tropic and subtropical conditions. These days the wild form no longer exists, but its cultivated form has spread around the world.

Understanding the climate it's cultivated in will inform you as to whether or not ginger can be grown in your environment.

Ginger thrives where it's wet and shady

Ginger Temperature Requirements

Make sure that you can provide the temperatures that ginger needs for the full ~9 months or so of its growth. You'll likely want to pot it so you can bring it indoors, but I've listed some alternative solutions here as well

Ginger Cold Tolerance

Ginger tolerates temperatures down to around 20F (-6.6C), but no lower. Because it has such a long growing season, Zone 9 is around the coldest it will tolerate if it's planted outdoors.

At these temperatures, ginger dies back to the soil level and will go dormant to make it through the cold. It's growth rate slows dramatically below around 50F (10C) and it will lose all foliage as temps continue to drop.

If you live in a colder zone but have a greenhouse, your ginger will definitely enjoy the warmth and thrive as long as your greenhouse stays warm enough year-round.

You can also grow ginger in pots or grow bags and bring it indoors when it gets cold. Just make sure you have some nice bright plant lights to help it through the winter. (you can also just grow it inside year-round if you prefer)

Ginger Heat Tolerance

Ginger will tolerate temperatures up to about 100F (37.7C) before it really starts to struggle. Beyond that, leaves will sun-scorch and some may die back.

If you're dealing with extreme heat, make sure your ginger is well-watered and partially shaded to prevent prolonged direct sun exposure.

Ginger Soil Needs

We talk a lot about soil on this site, and for good reason! Healthy soil is the cornerstone upon which incredible gardens are built. If you can get your soil right for growing ginger, more than half the battle is already won. Let's talk about it...

Soil pH

A soil pH of around 5.5 - 6.5 is ideal for ginger, slightly more acidic than most veggies. Consider an acid-loving mix or soil acidifier if your pH is above this range.

Organic Matter Content

Ginger loves soil that's rich in organic matter.

Soil Drainage and Moisture Retention

Ginger is used to frequent watering, but doesn't do well if the roots stay wet for too long.

Ginger Water Requirements

Ginger loves water, but it doesn't like to stand in it for prolonged periods. Saturate your soil thoroughly, but allow it to dry back significantly before watering again.

If your ginger is in a pot for grow bag, the entire thing can be completely submerged in water until the bubbles stop.

Does Ginger Need Humidity?

Ginger thrives in humidity, though it's also possible to grow in arid environments if you can provide enough water.

Ginger Light Requirements

While ginger grows in the sunny tropics, it's an understory plant that likes some shade and filtered sun.

Partial shade is best, though it will tolerate some direct sunlight and some full shade - but neither all day long.

If you live in a sunny climate, consider utilizing shade cloth or putting it in a place with afternoon shade.

In less-sunny climates further from the equator, ginger may well tolerate as much sun as you can give it. You'll have to experiment to see where it does best in your unique microclimate.

Steps for Growing Ginger

Ginger is not typically grown from seed, because it takes much longer than growing from rhizomes, germination rates are often low, and folks generally find it to be more challenging. That said, if you're up for the challenge and have a lot of patience, there is such a thing as ginger seed, and you can buy them online to push your seed-starting skills

Assuming you go the more common route of growing your ginger from a hand that you bought, let's look at the steps from growing it:

-Start with an organic hand of ginger from a farmers market or grocery store, which will not have been sprayed with the growth inhibitor that inorganic ginger is generally sprayed with.

-Wait about 9 months so that your ginger reaches full maturity before harvesting.

-Dump out the soil and the plant together (if you grew them in a bag or a pot), or carefully pry the plant out of the soil, roots included, with a pitchfork or shovel.

-Unlike some veggies which should not be washed when harvesting (sweet potatoes and garlic, I'm looking at you), ginger can absolutely be washed off and then dried after harvesting. A good blast with a hose on the showerhead setting ought to do the trick.