Is it possible to grow ginger in central Russia?

Ginger is a perennial plant up to 1-2 m in height. Long lanceolate leaves are located on a straight stem. The rhizome is an underground storage organ in the form of finger-separated pieces, covered on top with a black thin bark, under which there is a fleshy pulp of a light yellowish hue with a slight peculiar peppery odor. From it the adventitious roots of the fibrous type extend downward, and the above-ground shoots extend upward. Ginger is native to South Asia, but today it is widespread in Asia and Europe, where it is grown outdoors in warm areas, and in greenhouses and at home in colder areas.

Pharmacy ginger, or Medicinal ginger, or Real ginger, or Common ginger (Zīngiber officinale) is a type species of the genus Ginger of the Ginger family (Zingiberaceae). In Russian, it is often called simply ginger.

Pharmaceutical ginger, or Medicinal ginger, or Real ginger, or Common ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Interesting about ginger

Translated into Russian from Sanskrit, ginger means “horned root” or, in another interpretation, “universal medicine”. Indeed, it is used for 100 diseases. This natural aphrodisiac fuels sexual desire, for which the Chinese associate ginger with the word "masculinity."

It is believed that a person who drank a ginger drink becomes brave, brave, decisive. Such people are unfamiliar with fear, panic and depression. Clothes soaked in ginger oil bring the owner success in all economic endeavors and wealth.

The chemical composition and medicinal properties of ginger

The chemical composition of the rhizome determines its medicinal properties. The rhizome contains up to 3% of ginger essential oil, which gives a peculiar aroma, a large set of macro- and microelements. Of the amino acids, the chemical composition includes tryptophan, threonine, methionine, phenylanine, valine, etc. Ginger is distinguished by a high content of vitamins of the group "B", "A", "C". The burning taste of ginger is given by gingerol. The components of ginger: tsingiberen, camphene, bisabolene, citral and others in combination with amino acids and other substances create a stable healing complex. Ginger rhizome is used all over the world as a prophylactic agent and for various diseases of an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal nature, choleretic, anthelmintic, antispasmodic, for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver. In East Asia, traditional healers have recommended ginger preparations to improve memory. They considered it a good natural stimulant to prolong youth.

The use of ginger in cooking

Ginger rhizome is used as a component or part of individual cold snacks and hot dishes. Decoctions, infusions are prepared for treatment.In cooking, they are used in the manufacture of candied fruits, beer (the famous ginger), added to confectionery, and sauces for meat dishes. Ginger tea is unique as a healing tea for colds and a light invigorating drink for physical exertion and muscle fatigue. Having such a useful plant at home is a must.

Pharmaceutical ginger, or Medicinal ginger, or Real ginger, or Common ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Secrets of growing ginger

So, ginger grows everywhere, but on one condition - long-term provision with high temperature, sufficient air humidity, in partial shade (hot direct rays are destructive for the culture), without drafts and strong winds. In Russia, ginger is almost never grown outdoors. Experienced gardeners in some southern regions have ginger growing in small open fields as an annual plant. In the conditions of Russia, it is more often grown in greenhouses, vegetariums, and as a houseplant - in tubs and wide flower pots. All parts of ginger have a pleasant lemon scent. Consider several options for growing this valuable crop.

Growing ginger outdoors

To get a full-fledged rhizome, the ginger plant must be in the soil for 8 to 10 months. Given the long growing season, the crop is best grown through seedlings.

Preparing the soil for ginger seedlings

Ginger loves moist air and does not tolerate excessive watering. A soil mixture of humus, humus, sand and light garden soil, 1: 1: 1: 1, is prepared for seedlings. Ready-made humus can be purchased at the store. The mixture must be thoroughly mixed, laid out in wide bowls or pots with a height of at least 25 cm, and moistened.

At the end of February, ginger slices are placed in the prepared planting containers, buds up. The planted rhizomes 3-4 cm are sprinkled with soil mixture and watered abundantly. Remember! Drainage is required. After 15-20 days, young shoots of ginger appear.

Rhizome preparation for planting

Rhizomes for planting can be purchased at the mall or the grocery section of the store. Planting material must be young (required) and fresh. The young rhizome is covered with a smooth bark of a light golden hue, has eyes on the surface (like a potato). Do not buy damaged rhizomes, shriveled, sluggish, half-dried. They will not come to life and form shoots.

Before planting on seedlings, the rhizome is soaked for 12-20 hours in heated water. The kidneys will swell slightly during this period. Cut the planting material into lobes so that each has 2-3 viable buds. It is better to make cuts along the bridges of the rhizome processes. The wound surface must be protected from root rot and pathogenic fungi. Can be treated with biofungicide, sprinkled with finely sifted wood ash or crushed coal.

Preparing the garden for planting ginger seedlings

For successful development, ginger requires a light soil of medium acidity with a high organic content. In autumn, the soil is loosened 25-30 cm to create a soft bed. 1-2 buckets of humus and a bucket of sand per sq. m area. If the soil is depleted in nutrients, add 50-80 g / sq. m nitrophoska. If the soil is heavy or dense, be sure to make a drainage base from large pebbles and sand or large coniferous chips (it will acidify the neutral soil) and finely chopped waste from garden pruning.

Planting ginger seedlings

Sprouted rhizomes with vegetative shoots are planted permanently in April-May. To protect against unstable weather conditions (even in the south), the plantings are covered with a temporary cover made of film or other covering material. The soil must be sufficiently moistened before planting. The planting scheme is ordinary. The depth of the planting furrow is about 20 cm. The furrow can be covered with humus or mature humus. Spread out the sprouted cuttings every 30 cm and sprinkle with a layer of soil.

Pharmaceutical ginger, or Medicinal ginger, or Real ginger, or Common ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Ginger planting care

After about 30-40 days, young shoots will appear on the soil surface. The growth of green mass is very active and plants need sufficient moisture in the soil and air. Ginger plants are sprayed 2-3 times a week from a watering can with a fine-mesh nozzle and do not allow the soil to dry out. The next day after watering, the soil is loosened for better oxygen access to the crop roots. Watering and spraying is best done in the morning before 9 and in the afternoon no earlier than 15-16 hours of the day, so that water drops do not act as lenses and do not burn plant leaves.

Top dressing

Forming its rhizome as a storage organ, ginger is responsive to fertilization. It is fed once every 1.5-2.0 weeks, starting from the phase of mass germination. Top dressing is usually carried out with organic fertilizers, alternating mullein with poultry droppings at a dilution of 1:10 and 1:15, respectively. At the end of August, potassium sulfate is introduced for irrigation at 50-60 g per sq. m area. Potassium during this period promotes the growth of the rhizome.

Harvest

If ginger is grown as an annual crop, then with the onset of yellowing and leaf fall, watering is stopped. After 1.0-1.5 weeks (do not overdry the soil too much), the rhizomes with roots are carefully dug out, trying not to damage the crop. They are cleaned of soil and adventitious roots, washed from dirt, slightly dried in the sun or in a dry ventilated room.

Store the rhizomes in linen bags in a dry place or in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. The best storage temperature is + 2 ° C. The root can be frozen. A mature rhizome should have a light yellow tint in the cut.

If ginger is grown as a garden ornamental plant, then the root is left in the soil for the winter. For spring plantings, the rhizomes are stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

General view of the common ginger plant

Growing ginger in the middle lane and in the north of Russia

In the middle lane and in the north of Russia, it is advisable to grow ginger for collecting medicinal rhizomes in heated greenhouses with the creation of the necessary lighting, positive temperatures, soil moisture and air.

The protected ground area must be carefully prepared. The soil mixture for planting rhizome cuttings is prepared in the same proportions as for planting roots for seedlings. All preparatory work in greenhouses should be completed by the end of February. The soil is warmed up to +12 .. + 15 ° С, air up to +25 .. + 30 ° С. The optimal time for permanent planting in greenhouse soil is the first half of March.

Before planting in the ground, the delenki must be soaked in warm water for a day. They are treated with root roots and planted in separate holes according to the scheme of 25-30 cm in a row and in row spacings of 40-45 cm. Care consists in regular watering, dressing, loosening (see growing in open ground).

Naturally, the yield obtained under greenhouse conditions will differ in size from the yield grown under the corresponding climatic conditions in the field. But the rhizome of ginger with a smaller yield still retains all its useful and medicinal properties.

Pharmaceutical ginger, or Medicinal ginger, or Real ginger, or Common ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Growing ginger at home

Most often in Russia, ginger, even in the south, is grown as an indoor annual ornamental and medicinal plant. Planting of rhizomes in indoor conditions is carried out at any time of the year, but it is more practical and with the best result that delenki planted in winter develop.

For indoor growing, the size of containers and other containers prepared for plants is of great importance. Pots, containers, tubs and boxes should have a wide top, since the branched root system with the rhizome is located at the surface of the soil.The height of the containers for annual cultivation is 20-30 cm, and for long-term cultivation - 30-40 cm. The containers are installed on a pallet filled with pebbles. If necessary, the pallet is used for watering. At the bottom of the pot, several holes are made to allow excess moisture to escape with abundant watering and its intake when the soil is dried for various reasons. The soil is prepared from humus or vermicompost, sand and deciduous soil. Mix in equal amounts and fill the containers. Prepared delenki are placed in the upper layer of the soil mixture, deepening them a few cm. After 15-20 days, young shoots of ginger appear. Further care, as in the greenhouse.

A young ornamental plant is not transplanted for the first 2-3 years, and then this procedure is carried out annually. Simultaneously with the transplant, the reproduction of ginger is carried out by dividing the rhizome. When transplanting, especially with the division of the rhizome, all hygienic measures are observed against the ingress of pathogenic bacteria and fungi that cause root rot. When grown for many years at home, ginger plants can reach 1.0-1.5 m in height. Ginger blooms under optimal growing conditions with orange-yellow, sometimes red or brown-brown flowers, collected in short spikelets. In Russia, flowering is extremely rare. When the aboveground vegetative part turns yellow, the plant retires. During this period, the rhizome is dug up and used either for its intended purpose as a home-made medicine, or part of the roots is stored for spring reproduction. Some amateur flower growers immediately transplant the plants, separating part of the crop.

The homeland of ginger is India, but now it is not clear where this plant came to our country, from the East or the West. Many have managed to fall in love with it, but few have seen its flower, and it is very unusual and beautiful in its own way! We usually use

ginger

pickled or fresh root for various purposes. This is both cooking and traditional medicine. I really love ginger. And with Japanese dishes, and in

soups

, to the chicken, with

tea

, and all and do not count.

Ginger flowersGinger (Zingiber) is a perennial herb and belongs to the ginger family. This family includes about 140 species. It is actively cultivated in India, China, West Africa and Australia, as well as in the culture of Barbados, Jamaica and Indonesia. Introduced to America at the beginning of the 16th century. There is an opinion that ginger got its name from the Sanskrit word singabera, which means “horned root”.

Ginger Roots Ginger contains many essential oils in its rhizome and other parts. It is due to this that an unusual spicy-pungent aroma and taste is inherent in it.

Ginger has a dense, thick rhizome, covered in several layers with leaves with internodes of adventitious roots located in them. A pair of ground stems grow from the most developed rhizome. Ginger stems are not pubescent, they are long, rounded and erect. Leaves are simple, whole, long, pointed at the ends.

Ginger Sprouts Depending on the cultivated variety, ginger flowers can vary in color. The most common in culture are orange-yellow and brown inflorescence colors, but there are also red ones. Flowers are collected in spikes at the top of the shoots, in the leaf axils. The height of ginger can reach 2 m. Outwardly, the plant is somewhat reminiscent of our native reed, but the stems have many scales.

Flowers of Zingiber officinale The most famous species of medicinal ginger in the culture - Zingiber officinale. We will talk about him in this article. It is his rhizome that we use in everyday life as a spice, and also as a remedy.

Planting ginger

Keep in mind that ginger is a heat-loving southerner. The ginger root ripens in the ground for about 10 months, so there is an opinion that in the middle lane it cannot be grown in the garden.For cultivation in soil, you need a winter garden or a heated greenhouse. Sure, ginger is easily potted at home, but this article is for those looking to get a southern, fragrant and wholesome guest in their garden.

When planting ginger, it is worth considering that this tropical exotic plant does not tolerate drafts, excessive moisture and dampness (the rhizome begins to rot), the wind and the scorching direct sun will also negatively affect the harvest. In addition, ginger is very bad for transplanting, it is recommended to do this in the spring, as well as to plant. Moreover, the soil mixture needs to be updated, and the root must be divided.

Growing ginger outdoors. Photo of the site We have decided on the site: bright, sunny but without direct sunlight, warm, protected from winds and showers. The soil should be light but very fertile. Its acidity can be slightly increased or normal. Take turf, humus and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 0.5. Or dig up the planting site well and load it with organic and mineral fertilizers, break it up with sand if the soil is heavy. From organic fertilizers, rotted manure is best suited; fresh manure cannot be added.

Cultivated ginger reproduces only vegetatively - by dividing the rhizomes into nodules in the spring before planting. The root for planting should have eyes, from which shoots will then appear. It is cut into pieces so that each has a pair of growth points. The cuts should be sprinkled with chopped hardwood charcoal.

Sprouted ginger root Keep in mind that such a sprouted root cannot be planted immediately in open ground, it must be planted in a warm greenhouse in late March - early April. For normal vegetation, create a temperature of + 25 ° C for ginger, spray the soil with water. Do not let the temperature drop below + 18 ° С, otherwise the ginger will "fall asleep" and it will be quite difficult to resume its growth.

In our harsh climatic conditions, the roots are dug up at the end of August. At this stage, the harvest may not please you, so many transplant the ginger in tubs or large pots and grow it warm at home until almost spring. Sometime in February, such a transplanted ginger will shed its leaves and remain dormant. In this case, it is necessary to maintain the temperature no more than +16 ° C.

Ginger Care

Weed the weeds and gently loosen the soil. For the winter, you can dig up and dry the rhizomes, or you can try to transplant it into a pot and continue growing at a temperature of + 18 ... + 20 ° C already at home.

In the spring, as soon as you notice that the ginger begins to grow, once a month feed it with urea, dry mullein. But by the end of August, feeding should be stopped.

Planting ginger
Ginger does not like excessive moisture, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out either. It should always be slightly damp, crumbly.

Ginger picking

In southern countries, where it is warm all year round, fully ripe ginger is harvested when its leaves begin to turn yellow, wither and dry out. At the same time, the rhizome absorbed a lot of strength and was distributed. The taste of such ginger is burning, intense. But you can also dig out young rhizomes that have a more delicate taste. For example, in Thailand, ginger is harvested from November to March. In our reality, we have to dig out the rhizome at a time when, due to weather conditions, it can no longer grow.

Fresh Ginger Root Young stick-like ginger sprouts are also used for food. They taste like a tangerine with a sharp hue.

Ginger varieties

Since the 15th century, ginger has not been harvested in the wild, but carefully cultivated. Breeders are trying to make its rhizomes larger, juicier and tastier. There are many varieties of ginger that differ in the color of the pulp: it can be light, greenish, orange, brownish or yellowish with blue splashes.The smell can also vary - acquire citrus or herbaceous notes, or even give off kerosene. The pungent taste is almost the same in all varieties.

Ginger on the Asian market However, all ginger is divided into two commercial varieties by the way of processing, which differ in taste.

1. Black ginger (Barbados) - to obtain raw materials, it is enough to pour boiling water over the rhizomes without peeling them. This ginger has a strong, pungent, pungent taste.
2. White Ginger (Bengal) - to obtain it, the roots are cleaned with a brush and kept in 2% sulfurous acid. Rhizomes of this form have a less pungent taste and aroma.

Love and eat this extremely healthy plant: ginger normalizes metabolism, improves digestion, promotes weight loss, oxygenates the body and is simply delicious 🙂

Many of us know ginger root as a spice that gives food and drinks a special flavor. Plus, it's incredibly useful. However, few people think about where it grows and, in general, whether ginger grows in Russia or is it brought to us from overseas countries.

In fact, ginger is native to Southeast Asia and Western India. There it grows in abundance. Unfortunately, the wild-growing ginger has been practically supplanted by its domesticated brother, which is cultivated on huge plantations on an industrial scale. The plant is actively grown in Vietnam, Japan, China, Argentina, Brazil and Jamaica. But where is ginger grown in Russia, and is it grown?

Growing ginger in Russia

In the wild, you are unlikely to find ginger in our latitudes, since the plant chooses a warmer and more humid climate. But in the gardens and on the windowsills of some desperate agronomists, ginger grows in Russia. And with proper care, everything turns out quite well for them.

You need to plant ginger in open, sunny places where there is no stagnant groundwater. You can grow it in flowerpots or large boxes on a veranda or windowsill. In any case, you will be able to get a decent harvest if you provide the plant with a microclimate close to the usual one.

Of course, the harvest of ginger grown in central Russia will differ from, say, Brazilian or Vietnamese - after all, our climate is colder. However, you can still get usable roots.

How and where does ginger grow in Russia?

If you decide to start cultivating this beautiful and useful plant, keep in mind that at home it grows like an annual plant. Reproduction is done by dividing the rhizome. They need to be planted in early spring - in March-April, as soon as warm weather settles.

To grow ginger, buy a root with several well-developed buds. Fertile loam with a high percentage of humus is suitable as a soil. Before planting, the soil must be dug up and grooves 15-20 cm deep must be made. In them, lay out the root divisions with an interval of 25-30 cm.

In the open field, you need to plant the cuttings upwards with vegetative buds and sprinkle with fertile soil. Soon, the ginger will sprout, straight stems, similar to reeds, will appear. Ginger blooms with orange-yellow or brown flowers, similar to spikelets.

The roots of the ginger will be ready to eat 6-7 months after planting, when the ground part turns yellow. They are dug up and allowed to dry in the sun. The root should be light yellow when cut. If the root is white inside, it means that it is not ripe.

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 of clay and 3 parts of 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 a windowsill to germinate.

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, 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 feed 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 place for planting, 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 you used when growing ginger at home may be suitable.

On a note! To plant the 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, 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 out 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