Ginger root is used both in cooking and in medicine. In cooking, it is used as a spice for preparing almost any dishes and drinks, and it is also used in its pure form. In medicine to increase immunity, improve digestion and blood circulation… Ginger is the root of a perennial, tropical, herbaceous plant native to China. Ginger belongs to the ginger family. The height of the stems reaches one and a half meters, and the leaves are up to 20 centimeters long (resembles sedge). Ginger is blooming. The flowers are collected in a spike-like inflorescence. The height of the plant can reach 2 m.
Under favorable conditions and proper care, ginger can be grown in open ground, in the garden. This plant is not sown by seeds.
Ginger is easily propagated by rhizome division.
How to grow ginger in open ground, on a flower bed, we will consider in this article.
Types of ginger
- Black ginger (Barbados) This ginger has a strong, sharp, spicy taste.
- White ginger (Bengali). This type has a less burning taste and aroma.
Growing ginger – preparation of the root
Where to get ginger root?
You can buy it in any store. A root with a glossy and smooth surface is best suited for growing. Ginger root should not be: very dry, without buds, frozen. The root suitable for planting should be: fresh with a shiny and smooth skin; buds should be visible (points like in potatoes).
Before planting ginger, you need to put the root in warm water for 1-2 hours. This stimulates the growth of buds. All cuts, damage to the root should be dried (wetted with a napkin) and sprinkled with wood ash (coal).
Growing ginger – when and where to plant
The time for planting ginger is important. The ideal time for planting ginger is: March – April.
Choose a place for planting ginger that is bright, without afternoon scorching rays of the sun, protected from the wind, moist, and the soil should be nutritious.
We can conclude that the ideal place for growing ginger is a greenhouse.
How to plant ginger
You need to plant the ginger root horizontally, with the buds up. Do not forget about drainage (when water stagnates, the root of ginger rots), it can be fine gravel (1 centimeter) or coarse-grained sand (up to 2 centimeters). The ginger root should be planted at such a depth that there is a 2 cm layer of soil above it. Before planting, the soil should be watered abundantly.
Young shoots will grow out of the soil in one and a half to two weeks. Do not forget about watering. The leaves in ginger grow quite quickly, so the soil should not be allowed to dry out.
Tip: For a larger ginger harvest, take the prepared root and divide it into three centimeter pieces with buds. Sprinkle all the cuts with wood ash.
Ginger care
WATERING: Ginger does not like excessive moisture, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out. The soil should always be slightly moist.
FERTILIZER: As soon as the ginger (plant) starts to grow, feed it once every 30 days with dry organic fertilizer (dry cow dung).
But by the end of August, feeding should be stopped.
WEEDING: Weed the soil around the plant as needed. Loosen the soil around the plant carefully so as not to damage the roots. In winter, you can grow ginger indoors if you transplant it into a pot.
When to harvest ginger
In southern countries, where it is warm all year round, ripe ginger is harvested from November to March, when its leaves begin to turn yellow, wither and dry. The taste of such ginger is more burning, saturated. In the middle lane, younger rhizomes, which have a more delicate taste, are dug up in October.
Good luck