Growing ginger at home is surprisingly easy and requires very little tools and time. But before we share with you and easy tutorial on how to grow your own ginger roots from the grocery shop let’s talk about how healthy ginger is.
Ginger, also known as Zingiber officinale has been cultivated for medicinal and culinary purposes since earliest times, including the Romans in 200 AD while in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, ginger occurs in about half of all prescriptions.
Ginger roots are well known remedies indigestion, nausea and even travel sickness. But their use doesn’t stop here as they help with colic, cold, flu, irritable bowl, poor circulation, menstrual cramps, dyspepsia and many more conditions. Ginger is also a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that is used for joint problems, arthritis, fevers, headaches, toothaches, coughs, bronchitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, to ease tendonitis, lower cholesterol and blood-pressure and aid in preventing internal blood clots. Yes, it is pretty obvious that ginger is a super food that should be definitely present on our menu. And the best part is that you can grow it in your own home.
Preparation
All you need in order to start growing ginger roots is a small container (pot, can, jar) filled with soil and a ginger root bought from the closest grocery shop. Make sure you choose one with many “fingers” (ginger roots look similar to a human hand) that is also firm and looks nice. Soak the ginger root in warm water for one night then cut into chunks.
Potting
Make sure the soil you use is well-drained, rich soil that is neutral to alkaline in pH level. Lay one ginger “finger” on the soil making sure it stays on the surface – you don’t want it completely covered with soil. This is the trick to making this project successful. You don’t need to place the container on a very light spot as it doesn’t require much light, but what it does require is warmth. Make sure you water it regularly as you must keep it moist constantly.
Useful Tips
It is best to plant the ginger root in autumn as an indoor plant and then you can move it to your garden in spring. If you wish to replant it in your garden then make sure the soil is well-drained and of course, continue with regular watering. Don’t worry about pests and diseases! Ginger is prone to bacterial wilt only in parts of India, China, and Australia. If winter temperatures drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit it is best to grow ginger indoors as it is a tropical plant.
The Result
If you take a good care of your ginger root the green shoots can grow from 60 to 120 centimeters. Let the new ginger shoot grow for 3 to 5 months before you start using the new rhizomes. Plants need a 10 month growing season for optimum rhizome production. Oldest canes can be removed when new shoots appear
At last, enjoy using your homegrown ginger in your kitchen – young rhizomes can be juiced, eaten raw, preserved in syrup, and candied; also used in soups, marinades, curries, chutneys, pickles, meat and fish dishes and stir fries. Dried, ground ginger is used to flavor cakes, cookies, curries, chutneys, and sauces.
How to Grow Ginger Roots from the Grocery Store
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