I absolutely love and adore ginger! I use it weekly, if almost daily, in various recipes and drinks. One of my favorite things to do is make a sweet ginger simple syrup and use it in various teas and cocktails! Ginger is such a delicious and spicy plant.
Growing your own fresh food is an excellent way of reducing grocery bills and improving family health. If you’ve never grown anything before, there’s never been a better time than now. Why not give it a try with some homegrown Asian delicacy: Ginger Root!
Ginger is one of the easiest things in the world to grow and with just a little bit of effort on your part, you will have plenty of ginger roots to pop into the ground around the next equinox festival.
How to Grow Ginger
One of the most common questions people have is how to grow ginger. It is easy to grow and can be grown in subtropical climates. It is a green, leafy plant with an extensive root system and it’s easy to grow. From a culinary perspective, ginger provides a spicy flavor to food when used as an ingredient in recipes. Ginger has been around for centuries and its numerous health benefits have been known since the time of ancient China. Here are some how-to-grow ginger tips that will help you on your journey towards growing this useful spice in your own backyard!
Location
Ginger likes to grow in USDA zones 8-10. If you live in a colder climate, ginger can actually be grown indoors. Make sure it gets indirect sunlight and water regularly. How much water your plant receives will determine how big the root becomes. The bigger the root, the spicier it is!
Soil
The soil needs to have a pH level of 6 or more to ensure proper growth. Preferably, use loose organic soil with a mixture of sand and humus for optimal results.
Should I Soak Ginger Before Planting?
Soak the ginger root in warm water to prepare for planting. Fill a shallow, wide plant pot with rich, well-draining potting soil. Keep the soil moist, being careful not to over-water. Ginger is a slow grower.
Planting
You should start growing ginger from roots that are about 2 inches long. It’s better if they’re even longer because then you can cut them into pieces with 2 or 3 nodes on each piece.
Planting the Roots
Plant your ginger in well-drained soil that is at least 6 inches deep. You should then water it regularly and make sure to keep the soil moist by watering it often enough.
Temperature
Ginger loves warm weather, so you will need to place your plant in an area where there is partial sunlight most of the time (direct sunlight for 4 hours/day).
Harvesting
Your ginger root can be harvested 9 months after planting them in the soil.
Storing Your Roots
Ginger roots can last in storage for several months when kept in a dry, dark area that has a temperature of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and Ginger can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks. Alternatively, it can be frozen or pickled.
More Tips
As with any plant, it’s important to keep it away from animals and children so they don’t destroy your entire crop. If you follow these simple tips on How to Grow Ginger, you will have no problem growing this tasty herb.
Drying Out Your Roots
If you find that your roots are too moist or they are rotting slightly, you should harvest them immediately by cutting the foliage off at ground level.
How to Dry Ginger
- Place the ginger root in a paper bag and allow it to dry for three or four days. It will shrink as it dries, and turn brown.
- When the ginger root looks shriveled, cut off the top of the leaves and peel away the outer layer. Scrape out any pulp from inside. The ginger root will now be a light tan color.
- Leave the ginger root in a dry area with plenty of air flow until it becomes brittle, usually about two weeks.
- Allow the ginger root to air dry for another four or five days to make it completely dry.
- Store your dried ginger in an airtight container, keep away from moisture if you wish to retain its flavor.
Freezing Ginger
If you want to preserve ginger, there are a few things that you can do. Before doing anything though, you need to know that fresh ginger will last about one week in the fridge and up to three months in the freezer. To freeze your ginger:
- Blanch the ginger by quickly dipping it into boiling water for thirty seconds.
- Peel off the skin of the ginger and cut it into slices of any size. You can also grate or slice your slices of Ginger for different uses.
- Freeze your slices of Ginger on a tray for at least six hours so that they become firm
- Pack your sliced or grated Ginger into freezer bags or containers and store them in the freezer where they’ll last for up to three months! To use your frozen Ginger, simply thaw it out and begin using it for all of your favorite recipes.
Ginger can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Pickle Ginger
Pickling Ginger – This is the most common way of preserving ginger. Here are some tips on How to Pickle Ginger.
Tip #1 Clean the ginger before pickling it.
Tip #2 You can peel the skin off the ginger or leave it on.
Tip #3 Cut off any bad spots on the ginger root.
Tip #4 Slice the peeled or unpeeled ginger into strips by cutting diagonally.
Tip #5 Put the ginger into a clean jar. Pack it in as tightly as you can without smashing the pieces together. It should fill about 1/2 of the jar’s volume.
Tip #6 Make a brine with water and vinegar to cover your pickled ginger completely. You may also use salt water, remember though that all kinds of unbaked pickles will rot quickly if not kept in vinegar or salt water.
How to Make Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is a simple way to enjoy the benefits of ginger. To make it, you need to mix about one-half cup of fresh or dried ginger with boiling water in a teapot. Let the mixture steep for 10 minutes then strain into individual cups, sweeten with honey if desired, and drink.
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of how to grow ginger. The process is relatively easy and self-sustaining once it’s started, making the ginger you produce all the more valuable. Once you harvest your ginge you can store it in a cool dry place and it should remain healthy for some time.