Features of growing ginger from rhizomes at home

Growing ginger at home is possible, but usually we don't think about it. The word "ginger" is associated with the rhizome of this plant. It is this that has medicinal properties known since antiquity. It is for him that we go to the pharmacy if necessary. But few people imagine or have seen the plant itself. And few have the knowledge of how to grow ginger.

Biological features of the plant

To have an idea about the cultivation of ginger, you need to know what features are typical for it.
Medicinal ginger is known by other names: "horned root", "white root". Belongs to the Ginger family. The homeland of the plant is South Asia. This is a representative of the tropics, with pseudostems resembling reeds and elongated linear leaves. The plant is tall, up to 2 m. Flowers are orange or yellow-brown. All parts of the plant have a lemon scent.

The root (or rather, the rhizome) consists of curved protrusions and, in the presence of imagination, resembles outlandish figurines. There are 2 types of ginger that are cooked in different ways:

• white ginger is thoroughly washed and the top layer is removed;
• black ginger is not processed in any way.

The rhizome is dried under the sun, then cut into small pieces and sold. At the break, ginger has a light yellow color. It is in demand due to the substances that are contained in the root:

1. essential oils;
2. B vitamins;
3. essential amino acids;
4. resinous substances that give ginger a pungent taste.

It is interesting!

In the wild, ginger is practically not found, but it is cultivated everywhere. Half of the world's production of this spice comes from India. It is cultivated as a garden plant and as an indoor plant in pots.

Stages of preparation for planting ginger

If you are determined to plant ginger at home, then there are the following facts to consider.

• Ginger is a tall plant, up to 1 meter.
• You need a large growing container, not so much high as deep.
• Suitable soil, which is used for sowing vegetable crops.
• The root should have a flat surface, many “eyes” (buds), and there should be no visible damage.

Advice

Do not buy dry or frozen planting material, it will not sprout.

When is it advisable to plant the root? The most favorable period is the end of winter - the beginning of spring. Prepare the ground, pot, drainage in advance. The land is needed loose so that the seedlings grow quickly.

Planting ginger at home: easy tips

To "eyes" or kidneys "wake up", the root is poured with warm water for 2-3 hours. If you intend to cut it into pieces, then choose the part where there are kidneys. The cut site is dried or powdered with charcoal, you can also treat the open area with potassium permanganate.

The prepared pot is filled with drainage (1/5 part). Then they fall asleep with earth purchased in a store or prepared by an artisanal method from sand, leaf humus and sod land.

It is necessary to plant the root or part of it at a shallow depth: 2-3 cm, with "eyes" up. Sprinkle enough on top to keep the ground moist. With proper planting, the emergence of shoots must be waited for a crescent. In an apartment, the pot is placed in a cool and dry room at a temperature of +15 degrees.

Care: important points

Planting a plant is half the battle; you need to take care of it. Indoors, ginger is an annual crop.And since it grows in the tropics, it prefers: diffused light, high temperature and high humidity.

In the heat, watering is necessary often, at lower temperatures - moderately. To create a humid climate, regular spraying is desirable. In a dry climate, with rare watering, the plant will die. With excessive watering, the root will rot. For active growth, you need to feed ginger: potassium salts - for growth, phosphorus salts - for flowering.

Advice

During hot, long summers, a pot of ginger can be placed in the garden. The plant should be exposed to light, but direct sunlight is undesirable. Drafts and wind negatively affect the tropical plant.

In the fall, the plant should be in a warm and bright room. Watering is gradually reduced, the soil should dry out. This is essential for rhizome formation. After the stem and leaves wither, the root is carefully dug up, cleaned and dried in a draft or with warm air ventilation.

When you need to keep the ginger fresh, you can place the rhizome in a dry cellar or basement (+4 degrees). Can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time.

Advice

Cut the ginger into wedges and pat dry. It will be stored for a long time. It will also be more pungent and flavorful.

Growing ginger for decorative properties

If the main thing for you is not getting rhizomes, but blooming ginger, then you need to look after a little differently:

• planting should be done in a small-diameter pot;
• the rhizome does not need to be removed after the leaves have wilted;
• water it minimally in winter;
• in the spring, when the crop begins to grow, feed fertilizers for flowering plants.

Ginger will bloom after a number of years, but it is very decorative: your efforts will not be wasted.

Ginger has many beneficial properties. It is used in medicine, cosmetology, and cooking. But instead of buying a unique plant, it is quite possible to grow it yourself.

Planting and basic grooming techniques are not that difficult. And the medicinal root can be used at any time. Find an opportunity and plant this unpretentious medicinal plant. In our age, when diseases have overcome people, it will be very useful.