How to Grow Ginger Plants: The Complete Guide to Ginger Root

Ginger will do better the closer you can come to replicating its natural tropical home. Warm temperatures in the 70° to 90°F (21° to 32°C) range, moisture, rich and loamy soil, and a little dappled shade make ginger happiest. It should be planted with protection from strong winds. Also, ginger cannot tolerate standing water or completely drying out.

Ginger does very well in a hoop house, greenhouse, or conservatory, if you are so lucky. Plant it under the shelter of a taller crop like your hothouse tomatoes to give it a break from the intense sun. See how to grow ginger indoors.

Ginger can also be grown well in large containers and is particularly suited to grow bags. The rhizomes grow wide rather than deep, so a container with a large diameter is required—at least 12 inches wide for a single plant. 

Whether in the ground or container, ginger loves soil rich in organic matter. A peat and wood bark-based, soilless medium with a little sand mixed in will support container plants. In the ground, add lots of compost. Organic fertilizers and worm castings are also good choices.

When to Plant Ginger

Plant ginger in spring as soon as nighttime temperatures are above 55°F (13°C). For direct planting of rhizomes in the garden, soil temperatures should be warmer than 75°F (24°C). In many regions in North America, this is mid-spring.

It does take about 8 to 10 months for ginger to mature, although the rhizomes can be harvested at any time after they start to form. To maximize your growing time, you can also pre-sprout ginger indoors in late winter. 

How to Plant Ginger

To grow your own ginger, purchase fresh ginger rhizomes from a plant nursery or seed company source. Grocery store ginger is often treated with a sprout inhibitor, so if you try ginger from the grocery store, go with organic ginger. Or, try soaking store-bought ginger roots in water for 24 hours before planting and discard the water. Look for firm, large plump rhizomes with no shriveling or mold; they should feel heavy for their size.

Like potatoes, ginger rhizomes have eyes or buds, and rhizomes can be planted whole or cut into pieces, each with a bud. While you can cut the pieces as small as an inch or two, the larger the rhizome, the quicker it will grow, and the larger the plant will be, yielding a bigger harvest later. Use a larger rhizome and several buds if you only have room for one or two plants.

To pre-sprout ginger indoors:

1. Prepare a tray with moist compost several inches deep.
2. Cut or break the ginger rhizomes into the size pieces you wish to plant, ensuring each has at least one bud. Allowing the ginger to sit on the counter for a day to callus over can help prevent root rot.
3. Lay the ginger pieces, buds up, on the surface, and then cover with another 1–2 inches of compost, firming up around the roots. Water until moist but not soggy.
4. Cover with a humidity dome and place in a warm spot. A heating mat underneath can speed sprouting.
5. When the rhizomes have popped up green sprouts, place them under lights. 
6. Repot into individual containers to continue growing until ready to plant outside.

Plant ginger outside:

1. Work compost into the bed and loosen the soil.
2. For rhizomes, dig a trench that’s 6 inches deep and lay rhizomes, eyes up, in the trench about 8–12 inches apart. Cover with an inch of soil.
3. For sprouted plants, don’t forget to harden them off first. Then, plant the same as the rhizomes in a trench, but plant them with the original rhizome 2–3 inches deep.
4. Water well.
5. Once the sprouts are a few inches tall, apply mulch to keep the soil near the surface from drying out and suppress weeds. A 2-inch layer of natural mulch will make a big difference. 

If you keep them in containers throughout the summer, place ginger plants outside when the nights are warmer or move them back and forth until summer days arrive. You’ll have the advantage of moving them around to adjust to the changing sunlight as summer progresses.

Video: How to Grow Ginger at Home