How To Grow in Michigan: Ginger

General:

Ginger is native to the tropics, think humid and green with lots of shade and rain. Ginger doesn't mind growing in shady spots, so it is perfect to use up shady otherwise wasted spaces. It also needs to be kept pretty moist in order to stay happy.

This year I grew them in fabric pots so that I could move them around, but found they did not keep moisture in as much as I hoped.

Timing:

It takes a pretty long time to grow, and is not frost tolerant.

As such, you will want to sprout it before May so that it will be ready to start growing outside as soon as possible, and keep it outside until our first frost in October.

After October you can choose to harvest it as the size it is, or find a way to keep growing indoors.

My Tips:

The root is the part of ginger that we consume, and it grows horizontally rather than vertically. The depth of the container doesn't matter as much as the width. If possible, aim for a container that is pretty wide, but doesn't need to be very deep (6 inches to a foot)

“HERE’S EXACTLY WHAT I DO:

*Ordered organic seed ginger in January*

*Started sprouting the seed rhizomes in March (same similar process as starting seeds) it just needs heat and moisture. the kicker? it can take up to 6 WEEKS to sprout!*

*In May I was able to place each sprouted ginger piece in pots of soil/compost mix and out in my yard.*

*Keep watered and watch it grow!*”

How Can I Get More Help?

When I work with gardeners, especially those in the Detroit area that already have gardens, a lot of our work together is problem solving what’s going wrong in the moment. Whether it’s through my virtual coaching program or down in the dirt work with me one on one, if getting support in your garden this year is on your list, let’s talk.

www.floraculturegardens.com/consultation