Growing Ginger

Zingiber Officinale : Zingiberaceae / the ginger family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • Plant pieces of fresh root showing signs of shoots. Best planted at soil temperatures between 68°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 inches apart
  • Harvest in approximately 25 weeks. Reduce water as plant dies back to encourage rhizome growth.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Grow in separate bed

Your comments and tips

18 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here about growing it. The first short sentence.
14 Oct 19, Maria (Australia - temperate climate)
I want to buy some ginger ideal for planting. In have it planted but I harvested it too soon and the shoot that remained in ground died out and now I can’t get any in my area to plant it again where can I buy some in melb metro area
14 Oct 19, anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Read the notes here . You can try to grow it in Melb, but you will have a small crop. Buy from a shop.
10 Oct 19, lorraine makar (Australia - temperate climate)
You do not mention where to position plants.Does it require full sun? full shade? morning sun? Evening sun? light shade? Will be planted outdoors in pot. Thankyou
16 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Google it.
28 Sep 19, Daan Erasmus (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have tried for months to grow ginger from shop bought ginger. Nothing. Zilch. Please help.
30 Jul 20, Natalie (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I have freshly harvested ginger with roots still attached and I get a very big crop from these ginger.
17 Oct 19, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Most ginger and also chilli and garlic bought in the shops are radiated for pests/diseases. This will also make the ginger/garlic/chilli seeds sterile.
22 Sep 19, Palo Mphethi (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
How do i get ginger seed?
12 Nov 19, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
You plant a knob of it. (One with a shoot helps)
Showing 191 - 200 of 489 comments

Hi Lebo, one cannot usually buy ginger for planting in the way that you can buy for example onion seedlings. You will have to go to a market and look for fresh ginger with "growing buds" at the tips. Buy only ones that have small buds that start sprouting. Cut the ginger in piece with a few growing buds per piece and plant. You obviously have to buy a lot. Note that it seems ginger takes about 2 years to maturity or at least 5 months to first probability of harvesting. If you harvest in that way you will need to buy more "roots" or tubers to start with. Best to let it mature and then you will have enough to sell and continue your production.

- Hendrik

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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