Love fresh ginger?
You can grow your own from store-bought pieces!
It’s easier than you think. Discover 7 simple tactics to get started.
Fresh ginger at your fingertips? Yes, please!
Let’s see how!
Find Fresh Ginger
Make sure you pick a piece of ginger that looks firm and plump. Avoid any bits that look shriveled or moldy.
Ginger with a few small buds or “eyes” is the best choice because those little buds will sprout into new plants! You can usually find fresh ginger root in the produce section of your local grocery store.
Prepare the Ginger
Before you plant, you need to prep your ginger. Rinse it off to remove any dirt.
Then, let it sit out in a dry, warm place for a few days. This helps the cut sections heal and reduces the risk of them rotting once planted.
If you want, you can dip the cut ends in a natural fungicide as a precaution.
Choose the Right Pot and Soil
Select a pot with good drainage holes and fill it with rich, well-draining soil. Ginger thrives in loose, loamy soil, so avoid anything too compact.
A pot at least 12 inches deep is ideal because ginger roots need space to grow. Mixing in some compost can give your ginger an extra nutrient boost!
Plant the Ginger
Time to plant! Lay your pieces of ginger horizontally with the buds facing up.
Cover them with about 1-2 inches of soil. Water the soil lightly after planting but be careful not to overdo it.
Too much water can cause the ginger to rot before it even has a chance to grow.
Water and Wait
Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Ginger likes humid conditions, so misting the leaves can help if you’re in a dry climate.
Be patient; ginger can take several weeks to sprout. Place your pot in a spot with indirect sunlight.
Ginger likes warmth but not direct, harsh sunlight.
Feed Your Ginger
As your ginger starts to grow, you can give it a little food boost. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every month or so.
This will help your ginger grow strong and healthy. Make sure not to over-fertilize though, as too much can harm the plant rather than help it.
Harvest Time
Your patience has paid off! Ginger is usually ready to harvest in about 8-10 months.
When the leaves start to brown and die back, it’s time. Carefully dig around the plant to reveal the fresh ginger roots below.
Snap off what you need and replant some for the next round of growth.