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!*”

Need help learning everything that the seed packets might be forgetting to tell you?

If you’re setting up your first raised bed—or you’ve tried gardening before and felt overwhelmed—you don’t need more hacks. You need a clear, simple framework that makes sense for your life, your space, and your season.

That’s exactly why I created my free mini class:

🌱 The Garden-To-Table Jumpstart

Inside the class, I’ll walk you through the three things every garden needs to succeed:

A solid setup, the right timing, and small moments of consistency.

These are the pieces that gardeners often learn the hard way, and they’re also the pieces that unlock ease and confidence—especially for beginners.

In this free masterclass, you’ll learn:

• How to design a raised bed setup that actually works (so you’re not fighting your garden all season)

• What to plant when here in Michigan, and why timing is everything

• Why a few minutes of attention truly makes the biggest difference

• The exact steps I teach beginners so they can stop Googling and finally feel sure of what they’re doing

If you want your raised bed to feel fun, productive, and doable—not confusing—this class is the best place to start.

✨ Watch the free “Garden to Table Jumpstart” Mini-Class Here

Let this be the year your garden feels clear, grounded, and enjoyable from day one.