How to Grow Ginger

How to Grow Ginger in a Pot

Whether bought in the supermarket or left over from cooking – it is important that the ginger root is as fresh and firm as possible so that it can still sprout.

1. Cut the ginger root into pieces about two inches wide . You have to make sure that there is a so-called buds on each piece, otherwise the roots cannot sprout. The cells later divide at vegetation nodes and the plant can continue to grow in these places.
2. Take the pieces and place them face down in the pot filled with soil.
3. Cover them thinly with potting soil .
4. If you want to speed up the germination process , you can build yourself a mini greenhouse by stretching cling film with rubber over the pot. To save plastic waste , however, we recommend placing a glass upside down over the pot instead. The only thing that matters is that enough humidity is there. Once the first shoots show up, remove the protection.
5. Make sure that the plant is in warm and bright place – but without direct sunlight.
6. Water them regularly and avoid waterlogging.

Wintering Ginger Plants

While the ginger plant loves it light and warm in summer, it needs a cool place about ten degrees in winter. However, it cannot tolerate frost. Now you shouldn’t water it in the winter, because the plant ends its vegetation cycle like tulips and other bulbous plants. Only the rhizome remains.

How to Harvest Ginger

The ginger is harvested in autumn. You can tell that ginger is ripe from the yellowish discoloration of the leaves.

How to Store & Eat Ginger

If you have harvested more than you can eat, ginger can also be stored well. You can eat the peeled ginger tubers raw – for example as an addition to tea, juices or salads.

You can also use it to give dishes a flavor that goes particularly well with many Asian dishes. Pickled ginger is known, among other things, as a side dish to sushi, it gives the fish a spicy, hot aroma. Dried ginger is mainly used as a powder.

In Western culture, ginger is commonly used to sweeten meals up, which stands in contrast to some cultures around the world. Gingerbread, ginger cake and ginger wine are all naturally sweet products. However, in some parts of the world, ginger uses focus on the more savoury element with China being noted for its use of ginger with fish and meat.

It says a lot about the versatility of ginger that it can be used in so many different ways around the world. It is also commonly added to many teas and coffee to provide a different kick to the taste. There is no doubt that ginger is very much a matter of personal taste but most people will be able to find a reason to add it to their meal times.

Medicinal Use of Ginger

Did you know that there are many medicinal ginger uses? In the Caribbean and West of Africa, ginger is commonly used to treat ailments and this has seen it rise in popularity in other cultures. There are many health benefits associated with ginger and you may find that ginger tea is ideal for many of your ailments or complaints.

The benefits of ginger tea include relieving stress, being used to decrease swelling or inflammation of the joints, calming your stomach, removing feelings of nausea and even reducing headaches. All of these ginger uses should see the plant recognised as one of the most important plants you will come across.

No matter where you are in the world, you will find ginger being used in homes and restaurants. However, the way it is being used in that particular place may be a little bit different from the way you would commonly expect ginger to be used.