Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: new_2_veg on February 24, 2010, 20:10

Title: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: new_2_veg on February 24, 2010, 20:10
just sitting here talking and thought about growing ginger.

i like making jam etc and thought it would be nice to make something completely out of self grown stuff.

thanks

nathan
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on February 24, 2010, 20:21
Here is some info that you might find helpful
http://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguides/edibles/herbs/GrowYourOwnGinger.aspx

Some people recommend sprouting ginger tubers in water. IMHO this does not work and this way of planting them very shallowly in soil does -- done it for years  :D :D :D
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: new_2_veg on February 24, 2010, 20:34
lovely thanks, i will have a read.

where would i get what i need from?

thanks

nathan
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on February 24, 2010, 20:38
Most supermarkets sell ginger root but tbh the freshest stuff is usually in asian supermarkets becasue they have such a fast turn over  :D

Choose the most succelent pieces, light coloured and not stringy looking, with juicy looking bud shaped bits at one end if possible. You can break up the larger 'hands' into separate sections before planting.  :)
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: new_2_veg on February 24, 2010, 20:40
super thanks i will have a look to see what i can find


nathan
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on February 24, 2010, 21:02
Good luck  :)
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Tattyanne456 on February 25, 2010, 08:43
I have thought about it, I did in fact plant some a year or so back, but nothing came of it. I might give it a go this year as I 've invested in a polytunnel, and I understand it likes to be quite warm. Useful link, thanks.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: bigben on February 25, 2010, 10:16
what a great idea - and thanks for the link - I am going to give it a go this year!
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Thamesmeadhammer on February 25, 2010, 15:22
Never thought about growing Ginger ! Well try it this year in a container with some chilli's !
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: granjan on February 25, 2010, 15:45
That's just so interesting.  I like to try something new every  year so I'll give ginger a go this  year  :)  Thanks.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: gypsy on February 25, 2010, 16:49
That sounds like something to do for a change thanks. I have been to the Asian greengrocers and bought a "hand" of ginger ready for planting, it is just a bit bigger than my hand and has 2 big fingers which in total have about 15 smaller fingers coming from them. Do I plant it in trays of compost or does it need pots? I intend to transplant it into the ground when the weather warms up.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on February 25, 2010, 17:09
That sounds like something to do for a change thanks. I have been to the Asian greengrocers and bought a "hand" of ginger ready for planting, it is just a bit bigger than my hand and has 2 big fingers which in total have about 15 smaller fingers coming from them. Do I plant it in trays of compost or does it need pots? I intend to transplant it into the ground when the weather warms up.

Trays of compost are fine for now, you can always pot it on later. It does like to be very warm so even a heated greenhouse is a bit chilly at the moment for it tbh.

Growing in the ground if fine if we have avery warm summer but it is safer in pots, because it has a long season and then at least you can bring it is again next autumn  before it gets frosted  :D
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: gypsy on February 25, 2010, 17:22
Let me get this in my head properly :wub: start in trays in the house, when sprouting put into large pots, how deep do the pots need to be please, and then transfer to unheated polytunnel. Will that be ok?
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on February 25, 2010, 17:30
Should be as long as it is warm in the polytunnel. POts don't need to be all that deep because the rhizomes don't root that deeply.

I'd go for wide and shallow (6ins deep)so they don't fall over with the weight of the top growth  :D
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: gypsy on February 27, 2010, 22:12
I have planted my ginger in a washing up bowl in the attic  8) so lets hope it is a success.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on February 27, 2010, 22:23
Is your attic warm then?
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: gypsy on February 27, 2010, 22:32
Yes, it will be warm enough I hope as it is an unused bedroom.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on February 27, 2010, 22:35
Oh, I didn't realise. I thought it might be like our attic -- cold  :wacko: :wacko:

D'you know I saw ginger for sale in B&Q today, alongside rhubarb, shallots etc. An expensive way of buying it IMHO  :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: gypsy on March 05, 2010, 11:56
How long do I expect to wait to see the ginger spring into life? Mine is having a good snooze.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: bluelou on March 05, 2010, 13:14
Here is some info that you might find helpful
http://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguides/edibles/herbs/GrowYourOwnGinger.aspx

Some people recommend sprouting ginger tubers in water. IMHO this does not work and this way of planting them very shallowly in soil does -- done it for years  :D :D :D


Great information. I did not know you could grow ginger in the uk, with not having good summers anymore. I will be giving it a go, as eat a lot of ginger and it is not getting cheaper in the shops. Fingers crossed for a better summer this year!
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Cazzy on March 05, 2010, 19:55
My ginger has been in water for a few weeks now, it has started to bulge and turn green.  I'd tried it before in soil with no luck but i'm thinking maybe this time it will be a success.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Poolfield2 on March 05, 2010, 20:11
Mine seems to grow best when a bit gets forgotten in the back of the cupboard :lol:
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Tattyanne456 on March 05, 2010, 21:59
I've bought a hand, broken it into 3 pieces and laid it flat onto a tray of compost in a heated propagator. Its been there for just over a week, and showing good signs of breaking into growth. From here it will be hardenend off ready to go into the polytunnel in a pot. Its my 2nd year of attempting to grow it, last year I just dug a hole and put it in!!  Needless to say, it didn't grow  :lol: Never too old to learn!!
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on March 06, 2010, 10:05
How long do I expect to wait to see the ginger spring into life? Mine is having a good snooze.

Couple of weeks in the warmth should see some movement  :nowink:
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: barbarella on March 06, 2010, 10:33
I bought a piece of root in Waitrose yesterday for 25p, planted it a couple of inches deep in a 7" pot of John Innes No.2 mixed with a couple of handfuls of silver sand and some vermiculite to improve drainage and put it on the propagator tray which is set to 16 degrees at the moment.  I haven't got the lid on it as there are germinated seedlings in there waiting to be pricked out when I've got a moment.  I'm covering the lot with a piece of fleece at night while it's still cold, but am wondering whether I should put the pot of ginger in a plastic bag.  I'm never sure when you should or shouldn't do that, especially with cuttings.  Any advice please?

It would be great to know how everyone gets on with their ginger.  I will post when I and if I see signs of life.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: sunshineband on March 06, 2010, 10:37
A bit of clingfilm over the top would help keep it moist until it sprouts  :)
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: barbarella on March 06, 2010, 10:49
A bit of clingfilm over the top would help keep it moist until it sprouts  :)

Thanks, that's what I thought
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Dan78 on March 06, 2010, 21:29
oo i think i might have to try this too.. thanks guys!  8)
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Tattyanne456 on March 07, 2010, 07:52
I thought it had to be laid flat on the surface of the soil, not buried. Am I wrong?
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: barbarella on March 07, 2010, 10:06
I thought it had to be laid flat on the surface of the soil, not buried. Am I wrong?

You do lay it flat (as opposed to burying vertically) but then you have to cover it with about an inch of compost.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Tattyanne456 on March 08, 2010, 07:51
TY Barberella, I'll have to do that then.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: boosh on March 08, 2010, 20:33
Well i've just planted some ginger,
Two on top of soil, as adviced by a web site ( link at the begining of this thread)
Two an inch under the soil.
Both covered with clingfilm. i'll post the results when something starts to happen if atall.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: barbarella on March 09, 2010, 11:56
I just went back and checked that link at the beginning of the thread.  I hadn't noticed what it said about planting on the surface.  Here is the link where I got my information:  http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-ginger.html which states you have to plant 5-10cm deep.

So boosh it will be interesting to see which method works best :)
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: boosh on March 09, 2010, 19:55
Just read the link.
I'll be covering with another inch of soil.
so i've followed the advice of both links.

lets see what happens. fingers crossed.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: suziet88 on September 02, 2010, 23:26
Whose ginger was a success?
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Kristen on September 03, 2010, 08:00
Well ... not sure what constitutes success  :blink: but mine is growing - and the tubers (are they called that?) are bigger than when they started the season.  Plant is about 4' tall. I haven't had time to do anything with them, so they've stayed in the same pot (I'm guessing 2L might be a bit bigger) all season in the conservatory, been  fed when I have remembered but I have tried to keep them pretty well watered.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: boosh on September 04, 2010, 06:53
All mine are growing, best one is just over 2ft tall have not checked the tubers yet will wait till the tops start to die off.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: gypsy on September 04, 2010, 09:54
mine were over watered by my friend when I was on holiday and they drowned. 2 have just managed to survive but are only about 9inches tall.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: JayG on September 04, 2010, 10:02
mine were over watered by my friend when I was on holiday and drowned. 2 have just managed to survive but are only about 9inches tall.

Wow! A post from beyond the grave! Spooky!  8)
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: JamPan on September 04, 2010, 13:16
I never thought of growing ginger.  I just might have to try that.
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Spana on September 04, 2010, 14:54
Someone left a knobble here last summer and it was kicking about on my kitchen work top all winter until i chucked it in the bin in the spring.  Then remembered Bob Flowerdew saying something about growing ginger so fished it back out and planted it up.  Its just been stood in the greenhouse ever since and altho it looks a bit flea bitten it is growing and I've just noticed it has a third shoot poking through the compost :)
Its not what you would call exciting tho :lol:

(http://i53.tinypic.com/14nd4sy.jpg)

Think they are supposed to have lovely flowers :unsure: They would have to be mega lovely to make it  do anything for me :D :D :D
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: mumofstig on September 04, 2010, 15:01
The flowers sound strange to me  :lol:
 
Quote
If you grow ginger in a greenhouse, you might be treated to its seldom-seen blooms: exotic-looking, usually pink flowers that resemble miniature pineapples.


Read more: How to Grow Ginger | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_318_grow-ginger.html#ixzz0yZLygVs0
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Spana on September 04, 2010, 15:12
Umm, just Googled ginger flowers and they're nothing to write home about.  They look like sticking up Christmas cactus flowers :wub:
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: gypsy on September 05, 2010, 11:52
mine were over watered by my friend when I was on holiday and drowned. 2 have just managed to survive but are only about 9inches tall.

Wow! A post from beyond the grave! Spooky!  8)
:ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy: :D
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Elcie on September 05, 2010, 18:59
I didn't even know you could grow it here.  Might try that in a pot in the greenhouse, although I am guessing it is a bit late at the moment and I should wait until the spring!  I was in an Indian village over the summer and almost everyone there grows ginger.  They grow it to sell to supplement their very small income.  Didn't try any, although I did bring back some chilli seed to try next year!
Title: Re: does anyone grow ginger?
Post by: Kristen on September 20, 2010, 10:55
Carol Klein growing Ginger on BBC Gardener's World

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tv8vf

planting starts at 16:32, but there are some ornamental Hedychium shown before that (which Carol says she protects from the Winter just by heaping soil of the rhizomes!)