Illustration for article titled How To Grow Ginger At HomePhoto: Poring Studio (Shutterstock)

Ginger is one of those ingredients that you don’t have to worry about buying too much when it is needed for a recipe. With so many uses – including Ginger syrup, flavored oil, salad dressing and teato name a few – leftovers are always welcome.

But what’s better than leftover ginger? How about a personal stash of ginger to grow at home? Yes, we thought so. Here’s what you need to know about growing ginger at home, courtesy of Savannah Sher from BobVila.com.

Illustration for article titled How To Grow Ginger At Home

Climate requirements

While it is true that ginger is a tropical plant, it is possible to grow it outdoors in most climates. The catch is that it can only survive in temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above. That means that in some parts of the country – such as certain areas in Florida, California, and Arizona – ginger can be a year-round harvest.

G / O Media can receive a commission

But the rest of the US isn’t completely left out in the cold: after SherIt’s possible to grow ginger in cooler climates – the season is just shorter. In these areas, she says it’s best to plant ginger after the last frost of spring (which appears to be).

Although it takes about eight months for a ginger plant to reach its full potential, in the cooler parts of the country you can harvest the young ginger after three or four months. Or if you want to keep the party going, just bring the pots in for the winter.

Illustration for article titled How To Grow Ginger At Home

Deliveries

Unless you live in an area where it rarely drops below 50 degrees, consider planting your ginger in pots so you can bring it indoors when the temperature drops. Here is a full list of the items needed:

  • 12 “deep pot
  • Potting soil
  • Mulch
  • Floor thermometer
  • Organic ginger root (inorganic ginger is often treated with a growth inhibitor, so not ideal for this)

Prepare the ginger for planting

You can buy the organic ginger rhizomes (another word for a stem that grows underground – in this case, the way you normally buy ginger) from a grocery store or nursery. Here are some Advice from Sher with your selection:

Look for rhizomes with smooth skin that is light in color. Ideally, choose a 4 to 6 inch long piece of ginger with multiple fingers and a bud on the end of each finger. When the buds turn green, you are one step ahead of the growing process.

Then carefully cut your fingers off each rhizome so that each piece is at least 1 to 2 inches long and has a bud on the end. Once that’s done, put them in a cool, dry place and let them sit there for 24 hours to 48 hours. “This allows them to form a protective skin over the recently cut areas that prevents them from becoming infected with bacteria.” Sher is writing.

Illustration for article titled How To Grow Ginger At Home

Plant ginger

First, find a place for your ginger to grow. If you live in a place with warm temperatures all year round, opt for a place in the shade. Anywhere else you want to find a place that gets anywhere from two to five hours of sunlight a day. Here is Sher again to guide us through the planting process:

Plant the ginger pieces in a pot or directly in a garden bed. The ideal soil is loose and loamy (fertile). Ginger takes up a lot of room to grow, so plant each piece 12 inches apart, 2 to 4 inches deep, with the buds facing up. If you are using a pot, choose one that is at least 12 inches deep and has plenty of drainage. A piece of ginger can grow in a pot of this size.

Ginger thrives in moist, warm soils between 71 and 77 degrees. Water the soil immediately after planting. Continue to keep the soil moist by watering it daily before it can dry out. This replicates its natural tropical habitat. Depending on the climate, sprouts appear between 3 and 14 days.

Spread a layer of mulch on the floor to keep it warm when temperatures drop below 50 degrees. This also helps keep the soil moist. When the weather cools towards the end of the growing season, reduce watering.

Harvest ginger

While you can dig up the entire plant to harvest, there is an easier way if you want to keep growing ginger afterward. Cut off only the parts of the plant that you plan to harvest while keeping it in the ground. “As long as a 2-inch piece of rhizome is attached to the stem, it will keep growing.” Sher explains.