[gurtie]

has anyone had any experience with ginger (and i mean the plant not the hair colour.)
they keep saying its getting warmer do you know if it would grow?

[RichardA]

I have grown it in a pot in the greenhouse in the summer. All I did was let a piece of shop bought ginger root get a little moist and warm and then when it showed signs of a shoot I planted it. It grow into a much bigger root but did not keep well, shrivelled up in the fridge. Perhaps I did it all wrong but it did grow.
R

[gurtie]

thanks, sounds like one to give amiss but i like to give the odd things a try. i have got a mango growing at the moment on a window sill and i dont even like mangos!

[arugula]

Hi Gurtie,

I have tried similar, some time ago,  to Richard's test and grown some ginger root indoors, with very limited success. Its kind of dear to buy, so it probably is worth a proper try with the right growing conditions. This seems to be quite helpful:

http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-ginger.html

..might even give it a go myself.

Lorna. 

[RichardA]

lemon grass from seed went well, if you want something else to try
R

[arugula]

Now that's handy Richard! Its as dear if not even dearer to buy than ginger and that's if you can even get the stuff in the shops round here  .  I enjoy cooking light, tasty Asian style food using such ingredients as ginger, chilli, lemongrass etc.

Thanks for the tip.

Lorna. 

[Trillium]

We can grow ginger in Canada but its all under shaded screening as ginger detests sunlight. Perhaps that was the problem - too much sun.

[birmancats]

Tried it this year with a piece out of the kitchen that appeared to have a strong sprout.  Put it in the green house and it failed.  Must have been the diret sunlight.    Will try again with shade.  Thanks for the tip.

[crh75]

lemon grass from seed went well, if you want something else to try
R

I have a lemongrass growing that I started from a fresh stalk from the supermarket.  I popped it in a glass of water on the windowsil and a few weeks later there were a few roots. Planted it in some compost and it is now sitting on my windowsil. It is starting to get quite large.
Apparently you can use the leaf for teas as well as the stalk in food.

[savbo]

Doesn't Bob Flowerdew recommend growing them in a bucket of sand?

I grew some a few years ago, lovely foliage but then overwatered and rotted the lot off 
M

[Bluedave]

looking at growing both lemon grass and ginger next year. We've been to Thailand a couple of times and the in-laws go to south east asia every year. The mother in law makes some great thai food so if I can get it growing i'll be in everybodies good books (and might get invited round for dinner)!

By the by theres a great thai cocktail that includes lemon grass and lychees - it doesn't even taste like alcohol - could drink it all day long (well maybe not as it's quite strong - the legs might stop working). lol

[Cazzy]

I tried using some supermarket ginger too with no luck but i'm not gonna give up, I use it at least once per week and that warrants growing it I'm sure.

I've managed to root some lemongrass i'll put it outside after the frost and hope for the best so I'd love that cocktail recipe if you fancy sharing Bluedave?

[Trillium]

Here you go - all the inside info... And they really do mean filtered light, almost shady.

http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-ginger.html

[Bluedave]

I tried using some supermarket ginger too with no luck but i'm not gonna give up, I use it at least once per week and that warrants growing it I'm sure.

I've managed to root some lemongrass i'll put it outside after the frost and hope for the best so I'd love that cocktail recipe if you fancy sharing Bluedave?

I don't remember exactly what was in it - i've e-mailed the hotel though so fingers crossed for a reply!

Heres a nice non alcoholic alternative though - we were served this when we checked in:

http://appetiteforchina.com/recipes/thai-lemongrass-ginger-iced-tea

[Cazzy]

Thanks for the link trillium, looks like cooler climates are no good for growing ginger, i'll still give it a go in the greenhouse though.

Bluedave that ginger and lemongrass iced tea sounds delish, i'm gonna give that a try too.  Hope you get the recipe for the stronger stuff