How to Plant and Grow Ginger in Your Home Garden

Zingiber officinale

We all know ginger – a tasty culinary herb (or, more accurately, a spice) that you can buy practically anywhere.

Whether you’re using the whole root, paste, or powdered form, it’s a spice any seasoned cook will reach for, especially when they want an easy way to add a dash of Asian flavor to their dishes.

You don’t see ginger farms sprawling across the countryside of Europe or America. Now, why is that?

Lush green ginger plants in growing in dappled sunlight.

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The answer is simple: ginger is a tropical plant, and it’s fairly hard to grow in regions that are less warm and humid.

But there are options and methods that will let you propagate this culinary specialty herb at home. Here’s what’s ahead in this article:

Follow along as we explore the various options.

Where Ginger Does It Come From?

Most of the ginger that arrives in our markets and on our tables was cultivated in southern China, India, Indonesia, or West Africa.

In the native countries where ginger originates, the rhizome (not technically a root, though it’s similar) can grow aplenty as a commercial spice, or even in home backyard gardens.

A patch of ginger growing in a home garden.

It thrives in these tropical climes and has a penchant for spreading quite aggressively, even when planted as a garden perennial.

It would seem that ginger can indeed make it in some gardens in the US, but not all of them – it’s only suited to areas that are considered “tropical” or “sub-tropical.”

US Regions Where Ginger Can Grow Year-Round:

  • Southern Texas and Louisiana
  • Florida
  • Southern and coastal California, Central Valley
  • Southern Arizona
  • Hawaii

But the story is different for the rest of the non-tropical world.

So, if you’re a lover of ginger, is it possible to form a more personal relationship by growing it at home, even if you live in a colder temperate region?

Yes, it is!

There are a few tips to follow and tricks to it that may seem a bit daunting for beginner gardeners, but they’re a lot easier to achieve than you might think – and completely worth it if you want to enjoy your own homegrown version, for days and days to come.

Planting Time

First, you’ll need to locate some ginger rhizomes. These can be simply purchased from your local grocery store or farmers market, or you can order them online via Amazon.

Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale)

Online retailers are particularly helpful if you want a cultivar other than standard culinary ginger.

If you are able to choose in person, select a root (or roots) that is on the large side and healthy, four to six inches long, with multiple “fingers” extending from it.

You’ll want to find a location that’s in full to partial shade with rich, loamy, and well-draining soil for planting. This is naturally an understory plant that thrives in hot and humid jungle-like conditions with dappled sunlight.

Ginger can be grown directly in the ground or in pots (more on that later).

To plant ginger:

  1. Amend with compost or aged manure if your soil is lacking.
  2. Plant in early spring if possible. If you live in a warmer climate, you can plant at any time.
  3. Slice off the fingers, making sure each rhizome piece is one to two inches long with at least one bud.
  4. Allow the pieces to dry for 24 to 48 hours before planting, as this helps to control for possible root rot.
  5. Plant cut sections at least 12 inches apart no deeper than one inch. For commercial cultivation, ginger is usually planted in double rows one foot apart with a working path between rows.
  6. Water well after planting.
  7. Leaves will emerge after about one week.
  8. Water sparingly but deeply after you see growth.

Your ginger will grow up to four feet tall and many of the roots will appear above ground, which is natural for this type of plant.

What About Colder Climates?

Have you ever tried growing this tasty item in your garden year-round?

According to the USDA Hardiness Zones map, if the answer is “yes” and you live in growing Zone 8 or lower, you were probably disappointed to find that your ginger didn’t sprout back up when you checked it in the spring.

What’s a “Hardiness” Zone?

These are designated, climate-dependent regional categories that help a gardener determine what he or she can or cannot grow.

According to these zones, ginger may only grow year-round in Zone 9 or higher.

In the US, roughly anywhere north of southern Texas, Florida, and southern Arizona, and stretching up towards the Pacific Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England couldn’t possibly host ginger year-round.

You wouldn’t be able to plug it into your garden along with the mint, sage, parsley, or rosemary, sadly. And it won’t do well with the horseradish either, since that plant perhaps surprisingly prefers cooler climes.

So what’s the defining line between Zones 8 and 9? What makes ginger grow well in one area, and not in another?

As a tropical rhizome, this Asian perennial can only stand temperatures around 50°F or higher. Anything lower simply makes ginger unhappy – damaging it, triggering “dormancy,” and at worst, killing it off completely.

Chunks of ginger root with soil still attached.

Farmers, gardeners, and growers among my friends and community members have consistently reported that their ginger “shuts down” anywhere under 55°F. That is, the above-ground foliage yellows, shrivels, dries, and sheds itself until there’s nothing left.

Forget first frost. We’re talking about sweater weather.

But don’t worry – in most cases, this means that the plant has just gone dormant, or is “sleeping” until warmer times return. If you touch the rhizome with your fingers, you will feel that it is indeed still hard, yet tender and alive.

  • If you want a vibrant, beautiful ginger plant to grow year-round, you will have to make sure that it hangs out in temps above 55°F at all times, optimally between 55 and 60°F at the coolest. If it gets any colder, then this indicates to the rhizome that it’s time for a long hibernation until spring! And unfortunately, it may not survive.
  • If temperatures reach below freezing, 32°F with frost, you can expect not only for the foliage to die off, but for the rhizome to shrivel and become lifeless. Frost cannot be tolerated whatsoever – even if exposed to temperatures in the low 40’s repeatedly, it just doesn’t thrive naturally.

If you plant in growing zones where it CAN flourish, ginger will go dormant during the winter months, triggered by less light and colder temperatures. Then it will come back in the spring, without a worry.

5 Tips for Growing Ginger in Colder Regions

Fortunately, there are some simple tricks to get your ginger away from its frigid foe in more temperate areas– and onto your plate by your very own green thumb, even during the coldest of seasons!

1. Pot It

In order to have delicious, pungent cooking ginger of your very own that’s ready to harvest when you need it, it’s going to have to be quite mobile.

Potted Ginger | Gardenerspath.com

At any warning or suspicion of threatening temperatures in fall or spring, you’ll need to move it indoors quickly – all the more reason why you should keep ginger growing in pots.

When winter comes around, if you haven’t already, it’ll be time to whisk your potted plant inside, where it can be happy and verdant!

Where Can I Get a Rhizome to Start?

Many buy the whole rhizome from their local grocery store, pot it, and see it sprout up shortly after moistening the soil.

Ginger Sprout | Gardenerspath.com

I have seen this work myself, and it’s so satisfying!

What If It Doesn’t Sprout?

Try again with a purchase from a different source, until you find a rhizome that still has some life in it.

Or better yet, make your purchase from a trusted nursery that sells rhizomes intended for gardening, rather than immediate cooking.

What Size and Type of Pot Should I Use?

Pot rhizomes in containers where they can grow and spread to an even bigger size. It’ll want to stretch its legs!

Make sure the pot is well-draining, and the soil is a rich, fertile, absorbent variety – not dry or sandy.

What About Moving It Inside?

When you first shift your plant to the indoors, having those easy-to-move pots is very helpful in finding that perfectly warm spot where this exotic herb can hang out – until warmer times.

And If It’s Just Not Warm Enough?

You can move it effortlessly to a new spot, and see how it fares. Try a four-season porch, greenhouse, or even a low-tunnel or high-tunnel in a shady spot.

Caring for your potted spice is so simple. Once temperatures climb above freezing again, all you have to do is set your plant out on the stoop or porch.

Or, you may choose to give it its very own special place in your garden.

2. Transplant Seasonally

If you’re more of an expert and you have the time, you can transplant these in and out of your garden every year, instead of keeping them in pots.

When it’s warm enough, it’s time to sow your rhizomes – and when cold weather looms, just dig them back up, and nurse them in pots indoors.

Transplant Ginger Seasonally | Gardenerspath.com

Digging up the rhizome doesn’t hurt it, if you’re gentle. But if you want to see your ginger flourishing outside, then you’ll have to also keep an eagle eye on weather fluctuations to ensure its safety!

Like those in pots, make sure you plant your newly-purchased rhizome in fertile, well-draining soil that absorbs water well.

Give it some water and with luck, you’ll see it come back to life, even after being dormant in the produce aisle for a time.

3. It’s Not Just About Temperature

Getting the temperature turned up enough for your plant to really thrive is only the beginning. After you get its warmth and comfort just right, there are a couple other things to consider:

Soil Type Is Important

You’ll want to grow in the closest match to its native soil type as possible – which is a damp, fertile, rich, and humus-like soil that absorbs water, but doesn’t get soggy.

Water It

Soil type is ESPECIALLY important as it’s related to hydration, because you will need to water every day, always keeping the soil moist like what you’ll find in its native rainy environment.

To protect the roots from rot, water will also need to be able to drain away –muddy soil and “wet feet” will kill your plant, and ruin all your hard work.

Partial Shade to Light Sun

Ginger’s native clime is tropical, rainy, and forested. Keep your plants (or pots) out of full sun – consider putting them in the shade of a tree, or under a shadow-casting cloth.

Sure, you could grow it year-round if you’re located someplace like Arizona. But with the dry desert sun there, you’ll need something to both shade your plant and retain moisture – keep that in mind.

4. Harvest Ginger When You Want

What’s the true magic of growing your own? Being able to use it whenever you want!

You don’t have to be living in Hawaii, Florida, or Indonesia to have fresh ginger at the ready.

Harvest the ginger anytime you want or need some | Gardenerspath.com

The wonderful thing about growing it in temperate areas is that you can harvest some of the rhizome straight from the pot to your kitchen – without causing harm to the plant at all.

That’s right: it’s real handy to grow ginger in easy-to-manage pots, even indoors, and you can even take what you need and leave the rest to grow!

How to Harvest Ginger

The most common way: just dig it up. Rinse away all of the dirt under cold running water, and go ahead and use it.

With this method, you will need to grow multiple plants, or start again with a new starter rhizome if you want continual harvests. But don’t worry too much because, as we’ll get into later, if this plant is thriving, it will multiply.

To keep the rhizome alive: feel all the way down the above-ground shoot with your fingers, to the rhizome under the soil.

Measuring at least two inches away from where the stalk meets the rhizome, cut away the rest of the root that is growing away from the plant.

A pile of freshly harvested ginger roots.

Essentially, you want to leave two inches of the rhizome with stalk intact, and it will continue to grow.

You can use these cut portions in your cooking, while keeping the plant alive for future harvests!

However, do realize that after you cut all the ginger you can from a plant, you’ll need to give it time to recover. A minimum of a week’s rest is pretty typical.

5. Propagate Your Own Ginger

The lovely thing you’ll realize as you tend this flavorful delight is that it loves to spread.

Once your first pot or backyard rhizome swells in size and pushes up multiple stalks, sometimes even to the point of busting out of its container, you’ll know it’s time to start some new ginger. With time, you could have quite a few pots of this exotic spice!

Propagating your own ginger | Gardenerspath.com

Just cut away portions of the root that have their own stalk or “nodule,” leaving at least one stalk behind to remain in the pot.

Make sure that each portion you cut away is at least two to three inches in length, or the plant won’t regenerate when you transplant it.

At this point, you could just eat what you cut away. But you can also take each new stalk of ginger that you have split off and replant it in another pot, or in your garden.

Follow the directions above, water it, then watch it grow!

Ginger Quick Reference Growing Chart

Plant Type:Root Crop, PerennialTolerance:Shade
Native to:Tropical Africa, AsiaMaintenance:Moderate
Hardiness (USDA Zone):9-12Soil Type:Rich, loamy
Season:Requires year round temperate conditions for outdoors cultivationSoil pH:Slightly acidic (5.5 to 6.5)
Exposure:Partial to full shadeSoil Drainage:Well-draining
Time to Maturity:10 months for full maturity; 4 months for partial harvestCompanion Planting:Green mulch, warm-climate loving plants that love rich soil
Spacing:12 inchesOrder:Zingiberales
Planting Depth:1 inch or less; lightly add soil over rhizomes as they grow and multiplyFamily:Zingiberaceae
Water Needs:Once per week but deeplyGenus:Zingiber
Pests & Diseases:Aphids, ants, mealy bugs, spider mites, cutworms, slugs and snails, bacterial wilt, fusarium fungus, root-knot nematode.Species:officinale

Get Growing!

Long story short, yes, you can grow ginger practically anywhere. All it takes is a little finesse, a green thumb, diligence, and a sharp eye on weather changes for your local climate.

Freshly harvested ginger with the green leafy tops still attached.

Even better, it’s possible to get quite the stock of plants up and running from one single root – so you can have ginger all year, or share the love by giving some away to your friends!

Are you growing ginger in your garden? Let us know in the comments section below!

And for more information about growing herbs in your garden, check out these guides next:

Photo of author

About

Adrian White is a certified herbalist, organic farmer, and health/food writer and expert. She aims to bridge the world of natural, holistic health and nutrition to the realm of organic foods, herbalism, gardening, and sustainability - or "Food as Medicine" - throughout her writing.

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John
John (@guest_4345)
4 years ago

Excellent article! Great summary of how to get my ginger garden going.

gingersnapliz
gingersnapliz (@guest_4351)
4 years ago

The Zingiber officinal actually naturally goes dormant, no matter what your winter temperatures are. The dormancy period is triggered by shorter hours of daylight, along with cooler temperatures. In its native country, the winter is the dry season, dormancy is how they survive the drought period. When your Z. officinal begins to go dormant, foliage yellows and begins to die off, stop watering or your rhizomes will rot. Without any foliage, the water has nowhere to go. I live in central Florida (zone 9B/10A) and any of my gingers that naturally go dormant usually begin around October, November. Come spring… Read more »

Jackie
Jackie (@guest_5584)
4 years ago

Are there pictures of how to dissect them

Allison Sidhu
Allison Sidhu(@allison-sidhu)
Reply to  Jackie
4 years ago

If you’re asking about how to divide ginger for replanting, the size of each section that you cut depends on the number of eyes on the root. See our article on growing ginger indoors for more tips.

karen
karen (@guest_5690)
4 years ago

In San Antonio, winter overnight temperatures in the 40s and occasionally below are not uncommon. I see luxuriant four foot tall ginger all winter with beautiful, undamaged leaves in the gardens around buildings. What gives?

Wendy B.
Wendy B. (@guest_11688)
Reply to  karen
2 years ago

My mother is in zone 8a and has had ginger she got from Hawaii in the ground, unprotected, since the 1980s. It has undergone freezes every year. I’m confused, too.

Maggie Grosse
Maggie Grosse (@guest_16921)
Reply to  karen
1 year ago

Im also in San Antonio I managed to get food poisoning for Easter I sent my husband to get me some ginger. Wow one cup of tea and ginger I went from wanting to die to ready to get to work. Forget peptobismol My husband had no idea what he was looking for or how much I needed so he bought a pound of it. Only needing two little slices I’m going to try to plant the rest wish me luck.

Sabine
Sabine (@guest_7325)
3 years ago

Great, I tried growing my own Ginger from my own roots and it basically only worked once. So, finally I see why in this article, I did not have the shoots and live in Northern California where it gets cold at night. I think I’ll continue to buy it in the stores, haha!

John
John (@guest_7349)
3 years ago

On Ginger, I live in Vietnam, and the ginger I bought in San Antonio area grow very well and the ginger is huge. Not so lucky with the Horseradish I bought.

Julia Fleshman
Julia Fleshman (@guest_7520)
3 years ago

Thank you so much for your excellent article.
I live in Alaska now but before I was in FL, where I did have ginger in my yard.
Your tips are very encouraging for a plant lover like me.
I will try this year, in pots, of course!
Thank you and many blessings to you.
Keep sharing the joy of gardening.

Clare Groom
Clare Groom(@clareg)
Editor
Reply to  Julia Fleshman
3 years ago

Thank you for your kind words, Julia. Good luck with your ginger! You might also enjoy our article on growing ginger indoors for more tips.
Happy gardening!

Angie
Angie (@guest_7968)
3 years ago

Is it ok to grow ginger close to tomato plants?

John
John (@guest_7975)
Reply to  Angie
3 years ago

I actually am growing ginger with other plants now and there seems to be no problems. As for tomatoes I don’t know yet. I am starting a new tomato garden and will put some ginger in there as well.
 
 

Angie
Angie (@guest_7996)
Reply to  John
3 years ago

Thank you for your reply!

John
John (@guest_8013)
Reply to  Angie
3 years ago

I just read today that ginger is one of the most important foods to combat arthritis. I am 63 so I going increase vastly the amount of ginger I grow.

Ken patel
Ken patel (@guest_9650)
Reply to  John
3 years ago

Also try black turmeric and mango flavor turmeric, both are very good for arthritis too.

Lisa
Lisa (@guest_11508)
Reply to  John
3 years ago

I have a friend who has very advanced RA. I have made ginger infused oil for her for some time that she massages into her joints and muscles etc. She says that on many days she doesnt need the pain meds prescribed to her, or certainly it lessens the need for it when she uses the ginger infused oil. My father also has advanced bone cancer and says that the warming effects of the oil are very comforting and ease the pain and ginger tea was wonderful for calming his nausea from chemo, early on. I use the oils for… Read more »

DAPHNE CURRY
DAPHNE CURRY (@guest_15325)
Reply to  John
2 years ago

I got a tomato plant coming up in my ginger pot! And it’s doing awesome! Seem to both be in love!

Mohammad Bonakdarhashemi
Mohammad Bonakdarhashemi (@guest_9806)
Reply to  Angie
3 years ago

I don’t think ginger would go good with tomatoes because tomatoes need lots of sunlight and ginger is supposed to be shade or semi shade.

Yahaya Abubakar Samaru Zaria
Yahaya Abubakar Samaru Zaria (@guest_8032)
3 years ago

I’m just coming on board now, hope it’s going to be a good trip. I have a garden and want to try it this season. Thanks for your guide and encouragement.

John
John (@guest_8036)
Reply to  Yahaya Abubakar Samaru Zaria
3 years ago

Nothing more holy and healthy than your own garden. I love my gardens, they are my life.

Sylvester
Sylvester (@guest_8100)
3 years ago

Am in south africa and struggling to grow it what could be the problem

Allison Sidhu
Allison Sidhu(@allison-sidhu)
Reply to  Sylvester
3 years ago

Can you provide a little more detail, Sylvester? When you say you are struggling, what exactly is happening?