How to grow ginger at home in the garden?

Gingerbread cookies, tea, ale - all this is not only very healthy, but also delicious. Ginger is a tropical perennial plant with a tall stem, beautiful inflorescence and branched roots. The latter are used in cooking as a spicy seasoning for various dishes, drinks and pastries. The homeland of the spice is South Asia. But if you know how to grow ginger in your garden, you can enjoy a tropical island at home.

Ginger is very popular in medicine for salvation from various ailments. It neutralizes free radicals, soothes, protects the body from parasites and boosts immunity. Also, this plant improves digestion and blood circulation, heals the liver, strengthens memory, enhances sexual potency.

How to prepare for growing ginger in your garden

Under favorable conditions and proper care, ginger can be grown in the garden. This plant is not sown with seeds, since it does not produce seeds when cultivated. But ginger multiplies easily by dividing the rhizome.

You can buy it in almost any major store. A spine with a glossy and smooth surface is best for planting.

It shouldn't be:

• very dry;
• without shoot buds ("eye");
• frozen.

Before planting, it is necessary to put the root in warm water for 1-2 hours. This will stimulate the kidney to grow. If the root is incompletely buried, dry the cut off part that will be "on the street" and sprinkle with crushed activated carbon or ash.

When living in temperate climates, it is better to grow ginger in greenhouses, because this Asian plant needs abundant moisture and high air temperatures. The soil should be fertilized and loose, with a little sand added. A drainage layer (gravel, sand, crushed stone) must be mandatory, otherwise the root will rot!

And now spring has come. March to April is the ideal time to plant ginger.

Step-by-step description:

1. Take the prepared root and divide it into 3-centimeter pieces with buds;
2. Bury the root 2-3 cm into the ground, buds up;
3. Water the garden bed.

If everything is done correctly, then in a couple of weeks the first shoots will appear.

Tips or how to grow ginger in your garden to get a good harvest

• Use a sunny place for planting the root, but without direct "burning" rays;
• Protect the ginger from the wind;
• Spray and water the plant little by little and often;
• Continuously loosen the soil 1 cm deep;
• Fertilize ginger with a mullein, and after July, alternate organic fertilizers and potash;
• At the end of September, watering should be practically stopped;
• Harvest immediately after the leaves dry and begin to fall. Clean the dug rhizomes from the ground and dry them for several days in the sun;
• Store the roots in the refrigerator or basement.

Since the climate is colder than necessary, the roots may be slightly smaller than the store ones. But don't be upset about this. The main plant has grown in your garden!

The experience of growing ginger in the video

A small plant that looks a little like bamboo shoots in appearance, graceful and at the same time very useful - all this can be said about ginger. It appeared on store shelves not so long ago, but has already gained great popularity as a beautiful ornamental plant, oriental spice, and also a universal medicine for some diseases. Despite the fact that ginger is native to tropical latitudes, it is successfully grown in temperate regions of Russia. To grow ginger at home, you do not need any special skills or knowledge, you just need to follow some recommendations - this will help you. More details about ginger - growing in the country - will be discussed in this article.

Ginger - growing in the country

Growing ginger at home and in the country

Plant features

Ginger is a perennial herb native to South Asia. Domestic gardeners fell in love with this plant and are growing it in open soil or in greenhouse conditions.

Ginger

The plant has a fibrous adventitious root system, and the underground shoot of ginger looks like a normal root. It is decorated with green aerial shoots in combination with adventitious roots. People make various medicines and spices from the root of ginger. The stem has a rounded and erect structure, decorated with elongated internodes. The foliage has a lanceolate shape and grows whole. The apical part of each leaf has a pointed shape, and the base is pith.

In addition, ginger has long been renowned as a medicine.

Varieties

Ginger practically does not grow in the wild, so it is mainly grown by hand (in the garden, in the greenhouse, in the vegetable garden, and so on). For this purpose, there are various types and varieties of plants, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, the types of ginger may differ by region of cultivation (Brazilian, Jamaican, African, Indian, and Chinese).

Ginger, how it grows and blooms

Growing ginger

There are also many types, depending on the color of the cut and peel. Among them are "Crimson", "Yellow", "Green", "Black", "White" and others. There may also be such rare representatives of this culture as ginger with purple or blue veins. Gardeners will have plenty to choose from, besides, varieties of ginger may differ in aroma. Some varieties may smell like kerosene, freshly cut grass, or even watermelon. It is worth mentioning the shape of the roots by which plants are also classified (flattened, elongated, rounded, and so on).

Some of the types of ginger

Growing ginger

Remember that ginger is a thermophilic plant. This must be taken into account when growing. Ripening of the root in the ground can last about 9-10 months, so some people think that the culture cannot be grown in the open field in the middle lane. For this purpose, a heated greenhouse is required, although summer residents often grow crops in pots, after which they are transplanted into the ground. The main thing is to create optimal conditions for plant growth.

Growing ginger at home

Root preparation

Not sure where to get ginger root for planting? In any store in your city. But when choosing, give preference to roots with a smooth and glossy surface, and bypass frozen or dry roots - they still will not germinate. A ginger root that can be planted should be bud-like (like a potato's eye), have a smooth and shiny skin, and be fresh.

Preparing ginger root

On a note! It is recommended to soak the ginger root in warm water for about 1.5-2 hours before planting. This procedure will speed up the growth of the kidneys. If there are damages or cuts at the root, then they must be thoroughly dried and treated with charcoal. To do this, use a regular napkin, blotting the affected areas of the root with it.

Soil preparation

Ginger requires a nutritious soil containing phosphorus. Drainage is also necessary, otherwise the plant will suffer from dampness. To prepare the potting mix, you need to mix 1 part clay and 3 parts peat. But not every summer resident will want to prepare a mixture, therefore, as an alternative, you can use a ready-made soil mixture for vegetables. You can find it in any gardening store.

Soil preparation

Landing

Previously, sailors did not part with this plant, growing it in pots. This made it possible to protect themselves from scurvy on long sea voyages, because they used ginger as an antidote. Now people also grow ginger at home. Typically, the root is first planted in small containers and then transplanted into open ground. The planting process is simple, you just need to follow some recommendations. Below are step-by-step instructions for planting.

How is the planting process

Table. Instructions for planting ginger in a pot.

Step one	Prepare a container for planting ginger. To do this, you can use a small pot, at the bottom of which be sure to make several small holes. They are needed to absorb moisture and ventilate the air (so that the plant does not suffocate).
Step two	Add some drainage to the bottom of the pot. In this case, dried mandarin bark is used. You can use eggshells, tree bark, or styrofoam, depending on your preference. In any case, it is necessary to provide air access to the ginger roots.
Step three	Add a small layer of humus to nourish the plant. Also, some summer residents use dried tea mixed with coffee, but this is not necessary.
Step four	Fill the pot about 80% full with potting soil or potting mix. If small stones, lumps or tree branches come across in the mixture, remove them.
Step five	Without pouring the potting mix to the edge of the pot, place the ginger root there. Dip it halfway into the soil, then fill the container completely by lightly tamping the soil with your fingers.
Step six	Place the pot of ginger root in a container of snow water for about 5-10 minutes. This will allow the soil to be completely saturated with moisture. Then place the plant on the windowsill for germination.

Follow-up care

For active development, ginger must be watered regularly. But do this carefully, as the plant does not like waterlogged soil very much. Water as the soil dries up using small amounts of water.

Watering ginger

It is advisable to apply top dressing twice a week - this will improve the growth of the crop, since ginger responds well to the introduction of various additives. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid damaging the plant.

Ginger sprout

On a note! In the spring, it is advisable to fertilize with nitrogen fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate works best for this purpose. In late summer and early autumn, use potash rather than nitrogen fertilizers. For this, potassium magnesium is suitable - a three-component mineral additive used by gardeners when growing different crops.

It is advisable to fertilize the plant in this order - the addition of potassium will accelerate the growth of the root system, and the addition of nitrogen will serve as a source of additional nutrition for the ginger leaves.

Fertilization

Important! When growing ginger, it is not necessary to choose the sunny side, since this plant is not very demanding on light.When growing in pots, you can also use the north side sills. Of course, gardeners usually still place ginger in well-lit places so that direct sunlight can illuminate and warm the plant.

Planting in open ground

It is worth noting that if you plan to start growing ginger in an open area, then for this you will need at least 10 sprouted plant roots. Otherwise, there will be no point in wasting your time caring for a single bush. Therefore, plant several ginger roots in pots at once.

Growing ginger outdoors

When choosing a landing site, give preference to semi-shaded areas, but well-lit by the sun's rays. If the soil has good drainage properties and is breathable, then the potted plant can be planted without first fertilizing the soil. Otherwise, you need to use a special potting mix. For this, the one that you used when growing ginger at home may be suitable.

On a note! To plant plants in open ground, dig small holes no more than 25 cm deep. Place small pebbles on the bottom of the hole for drainage. The thickness of the drainage layer is 2 cm. Pour some sand on top (about the same layer). Only after the sand can be added the potting mix to the hole.

It will take at least 6 months for the planted ginger root to fully ripen, although when grown in the middle lane, this will take about 9 months. When the strongly yellowed ginger leaves begin to gradually die off, you can start digging out the roots. As a rule, this process begins in the first half of autumn.

Growing ginger outdoors. Photo

Harvesting and storage

In the climate of southern countries, where the air temperature is high all year round, the ripening of ginger fruits is indicated by their drying and yellowing leaves, which gradually begin to fade. But, despite the drying out leaves, the root system of the plant still remains strong and succulent, as it has managed to accumulate a lot of strength. This ginger has a rich and pungent taste. But it is not necessary to dig up fully ripe roots, because young rhizomes have a special taste, characterized by their tenderness.

Storing ginger

For example, residents of Thailand start harvesting in the second half of November, but if we talk about the regions of Russia, then people begin to collect ginger roots when the rhizome can no longer grow due to unfavorable weather conditions. In addition to the roots, small sprouts of ginger, which in appearance resemble a regular pencil, can also be used for food. Only young sprouts are used, because their taste is a bit like the tangy tangerine.

To store ginger, you need a cellar where the temperature does not drop below + 4 ° C. This applies to storage without a refrigerator. If there is one in your dacha, then, of course, the root must be kept in it. Just set it to the right temperature. It is advisable to place the ginger in a paper bag or simply wrap it in newspaper before putting it in the refrigerator.

Ginger wrapped in paper

A paper bag will work too

Tips for novice gardeners

When growing ginger in the country, the following recommendations can help you:

• ginger is afraid of drafts and wind, so it must be protected from them;
• when growing on a windowsill, regularly spray the plant with a spray bottle;
• loosen the soil at least 4 times a month;
• when feeding, constantly alternate between different types of fertilizers;
• from the beginning of October, reduce the number of waterings as much as possible;
• as soon as the leaves begin to dry out and fall off, start harvesting. After digging up the ginger roots, they need to be dried in the sun for 1-2 days;
• cold storage is necessary for storing rhizomes - do not forget about it.

Due to the cool climate, the grown roots will be slightly different in size from the store ones. This is normal, so don't be in a hurry to get upset over a “bad” crop.

Video - Planting ginger in the country

Today, ginger root can be purchased without any problems. How to grow ginger from the root at home? Has this question never crossed your mind? It turns out you can. It can be on the windowsill, or in the garden.

Thanks to its medicinal qualities and fat-burning effect, this healthy spicy-spicy tuber has become incredibly popular, by the way, deservedly so.

At home, ginger is planted in winter or early spring. The planting soil should be soft and loose so that the sprouts can easily make their way through it. At the initial stage of cultivation, you can feed the soil with potash fertilizers.

The ginger pot should have a wide bottom, because the growth of the tuber is mainly in breadth. At the bottom of the container, you need to pour expanded clay drainage (4-5 cm), and then soil. You can purchase special soil for growing vegetables in advance, or you can mix soil, turf, deciduous humus and sand in equal parts.

↑ back to contents ↑ How to plant ginger root?

First you need to choose high-quality planting material - a smooth and healthy, not overdried root. Since ginger reproduces by dividing the tuber, the planting root should have many shoot buds (“eyes”) on its surface. These sprouts are somewhat reminiscent of potato "eyes" and perform a similar function.

Choose for planting plump roots, without wrinkles, with several "fingers", with visible eyes at the end of the "fingers". Ideally, those little eyes would have turned green, but generally speaking, this is not necessary.

Before you buy ginger root for planting, make sure it hasn't been in the freezer.

In order for the buds to "wake up" and activate, you can soak the root in warm water for 3-4 hours, and then cut (cut along the bridges) into separate fragments. Some gardeners recommend soaking the tubers in a not very strong solution of potassium permanganate. The area of ​​the cut can be sprinkled with crushed coal (activated pharmacy or ash).

As mentioned above, ginger root is planted in early spring.

Ginger prefers partial shade or areas in which the sun is from morning to noon. The landing site should be protected from the wind, the soil is moist and warm - somewhere between 22 ° and 25 ° C.

In the tropics in its homeland, ginger grows in full shade, but, for example, in the middle lane, a shady place may be too cold for it.

Ginger grows slowly, especially outside the tropics. If you're lucky, the sprout may appear in a few days. But usually it takes at least two weeks.

It takes 8-10 months to fully ripen, so by the onset of winter you can already reap the fruits of your own harvest. Under natural conditions, ginger is a perennial plant, but in the domesticated version it will be annual.

The ginger root should be deepened by about 3 cm, while the sprouts (eyes) should look up. After planting, sprinkle with earth and water on the tubers. It is better to place the pot itself where it will be cool, no more than + 15 ° C, where it will be dry, there will be no access to direct sunlight.

The first shoots usually appear after 12-14 days, until this time it is not necessary to overfill the soil with water too actively (so that the roots do not rot) - it should be slightly damp.

↑ back to content ↑ How to grow ginger from the root - care

Ginger root maintenance while growing is regular but moderate watering. Do not allow the soil to dry out, as well as too abundant moisture. During the growing season, ginger can be fertilized with mullein diluted in water (1 in 10), about once every 3 weeks.After each watering, it is recommended to loosen the top layer of the soil, and if you irrigate the stem with a spray bottle every day, the ginger will thank you.

By the end of September, when the stems and leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow, dry out, the frequency of watering should be minimized, and irrigation should be stopped altogether. By the time the ground part of the ginger is completely dry, you can dig up the tubers. After being removed from the ground, the ginger is cleaned of soil residues, the adventitious roots are removed, and dried in an open, sunny place for several days.

If you have the opportunity to take pots of ginger to the street (cottage, courtyard of a private house), then a shaded area, for example, the shadow of a tree or a spreading bush, will be the best place for a plant. Ginger is a light-loving plant, but, at the same time, the direct rays of the sun are destructive for it.

When you grow ginger in the way described above, you will not see it blooming. It blooms in the second year, if at least part of the root was left in the ground for the winter. It is unlikely that he will survive in mid-latitudes. I think that only residents of the southern regions, for example, the Black Sea coast, will be able to see ginger in bloom. But even they should cover the ginger roots left for the winter with mulch.

Below you can watch a video with a photo of a blooming ginger.

The cultivation of this crop will not bring you any particular difficulties. Like any plant, ginger needs care and attention. Therefore, any gardener, both beginner and experienced, can grow ginger from the root. If you love this spicy and healing tuber, then don't miss this opportunity.

Video: How to plant and care for ginger.

Ginger is a commonly used herb. Tea made from it with honey and lemon is a powerful antiviral agent that helps with colds and flu. We usually buy ginger in the store, but it is not difficult to grow it at home. You will learn how to grow ginger at home in this article.

Features of growing ginger at home

This plant is a resident of tropical countries. It is hot there and a lot of moisture, so in the apartment it will be necessary to create similar conditions for the plant. In the tropics and subtropics, ginger is a perennial. Indoors and outdoors, it is usually grown as an annual crop.

If you want the plant to overwinter and please with flowering, which happens only in the second year, you can dig up the rhizome grown in the garden and transplant it into a pot. The root of ginger is fibrous - it will feel good in a pot. You just need to remember that ginger can grow up to a meter or more in height, therefore the plant needs to choose the appropriate place where it will be spacious.

Preparing for landing

To grow ginger from the root, you need to prepare it first. Like any cultivated plant, ginger has a variety of varieties to grow. Some of them not only give a good harvest of rhizomes, but also have a long, beautiful flowering, and therefore can serve as a decorative element of a flower garden.

• Zerumbet - has flowers similar to roses.
• Wonderful - it has a long bloom of scarlet flowers.
• Kasumunar - Its white flowers are similar to orchids.
• Purple - Powerful stems bear flower stalks with decorative flowers.
• Japanese - blooms early, flowers have a scent.

Of course, in the store it is hardly possible to find out which variety the selected root belongs to. Growing it as an ornamental plant is fraught with great difficulties: you need to withstand a certain temperature regime, air humidity and other parameters. It is difficult to keep all this in the apartment. Therefore, we will limit ourselves to the cultivation of spicy rhizomes. By the way, they are the most delicious in the first year of life, and with further cultivation they not only coarse, but also acquire excessive bitterness.

To grow ginger from the root, you need to choose and prepare it correctly. We choose a rhizome with a large number of eyes.The lighter the skin, the less it has been stored. Sometimes on sale you can find a rhizome peeled and processed in a special way - it is not suitable for planting.

Root soak

In order for the eyes to sprout as soon as possible, the rhizome needs to be "awakened", since it dries up a little during storage. It is enough to soak it for 2-3 hours (the water is taken warm for this).

Further preparation process:

• cut along the jumpers so that there is at least one kidney on each piece;
• we disinfect pieces of rhizome in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• Sprinkle the slices with crushed coal.

Disembarkation

For planting, a large-diameter pot is selected so that the rhizomes have room to grow and of sufficient height if ginger will grow in the room for more than one year. For growing ginger at home on a windowsill, nutritious garden soil or any purchased soil for garden crops is suitable, as long as it is loose and has a neutral reaction.

1. We spill the soil with Fitosporin solution.
2. Be sure to place drainage at the bottom of the pot.
3. Don't forget the water drain hole.
4. Place a piece of a tuber or a whole rhizome in a moistened soil to a depth of about 2 cm, bud upwards.

Sprouts of ginger

We are waiting for seedlings, from time to time moistening the soil in the pot. This usually takes about a month. All this time, the pot should be in the light and warm. If the air in the apartment is very dry, you can put a plastic bag on the pot. Such a procedure will not only provide greenhouse conditions for plantings, but also accelerate the emergence of seedlings by 2 weeks. If planting was carried out at the end of winter or early spring, then there is a chance not only to get a harvest of rhizomes, but also to see the flowering of the plant.

Home Ginger Care

For a plant to develop well, it needs conditions close to natural.

Special conditions: lighting, temperature

For ginger, the temperature range from 25 to 33 degrees Celsius is considered comfortable, but he does not like sudden changes in temperature. The best light for him is diffused, and the midday bright sun rays will not do the ginger good. Therefore, we choose an east-facing window sill for growing it. In a warm summer, he will feel good on the loggia or even in the garden, if you protect him from the scorching sun and strong winds.

Watering, feeding, loosening

Ginger loves moisture, but stagnation can cause root rot. The soil in the pot should always be slightly damp, because the higher the temperature, the more often the plant needs to be watered. In the middle of autumn, watering is reduced, drying an earthen lump - so the rhizomes will gain a large mass.

Top dressing of ginger is carried out with full mineral fertilizer once every 2-3 weeks. It must be combined with watering. Ginger gratefully responds to spraying with warm water.

If the plant is grown for flowering, phosphorus should prevail in the fertilizer mixture, it needs more potassium to form rhizomes.

So that the air flows freely to the roots, the soil in the pot is loosened every week, but shallowly, so as not to disturb the growing rhizomes. With good care, the plant quickly grows leaves, which, by the way, can be eaten. You should not be zealous with cutting them, otherwise the growing rhizomes will not have enough nutrition, they will grow more slowly and become small.

Ginger harvest

In order for full-fledged rhizomes to grow, ginger takes about 8 months. Usually in the fall, the plant begins to prepare for the dormant period - the stems fall apart, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. If you want the plant to overwinter, take it to a room with a temperature of about 15 degrees. The plant does not need light or feeding at this time. It is enough to slightly moisten the earthen lump several times during the winter.

If the purpose of cultivation was to obtain a harvest, the rhizomes must be dug up, freed from adventitious roots and dried.Dig out the rhizomes with your hands so as not to damage them.

Outdoor growing rules

They are no more difficult than growing in a room.

In warm regions, the plant will be comfortable without any shelter when planting directly into the ground. In cool climates, it is better to grow ginger in a greenhouse, planting it for preliminary germination in the middle of winter in pots at home.

Growing rules:

• we select a place in the partial shade of other crops, but with a sufficient amount of diffused light;
• the soil must be fertile, so we fill it with humus and complete mineral fertilizer;
• if the soil is light, you can do without drainage, otherwise we put small pebbles and a layer of sand on the bottom of the hole 20 cm deep, the thickness of both is 2 cm;
• we fill the pits with soil and plant the grown plants, watering them well;
• water the plants as needed, preventing the soil from drying out;
• we feed 2 times a month with organic fertilizers or herbal infusion;
• in August, we carry out top dressing with potassium sulfate;
• from the beginning of September we stop watering.

How to protect ginger from diseases and pests?

Ginger is quite resistant to diseases and does not suffer from them with proper care. Of the pests, he can be annoyed by the scourge of all indoor plants - the spider mite. The most radical way to combat it is by spraying with acaricides. But for a culture used for food, this is not desirable. Therefore, you can arrange a shower for the plant every 2 weeks with hot (but not higher than 40 degrees) water with washing the leaves with soapy water.

A good way is to rub the leaves and stems with 96% concentration of rubbing alcohol. This procedure is carried out quickly so as not to burn the plants.

Growing ginger at home and on the street is an exciting activity, and a good harvest of rhizomes will provide an environmentally friendly food product for a long time.