Ginger

ited by Stephanie Dawson
There are many health benefits to ginger. In our
world of processed and GMO foods it’s hard to
find foods in their purest form. The best way to
obtain herbs and foods in their purest form is to
grow them yourself. Ginger is easy to grow and
does not require much effort. Here is some
information on how to grow your own ginger:
Ginger is not much different from other herbs
and requires the same things other herbs do. To
get started the first thing you need is the ginger
root, known as rhizomes. You can get it from
someone who grows ginger or buy it from a
local nursery, make sure you buy fresh roots.
Usually plump and smooth skinned ginger root
is best. Once you have bought the root, soak it
in warm water for 12 hours.
Then take a 14-inch pot, big enough to
accommodate three average-sized rhizomes.
Make sure the pot has adequate drainage to
drain away water and waste and fill with
planting soil. You can use compost soil from
your garden if you have it, if not have a garden
you use compost warm manure that can be
bought from any local nursery or plant shop.
You can add potting soil to the manure to make
a more nutritious mixture for the ginger
root.After placing soil in the pot cut the soaked
ginger root into small pieces. Place the ginger
roots into the soil 2-5 inches deep. Cover the
roots with soil and manure to hide roots. It’s
important to create the right environment for the
growth of your ginger, it requires a lot of
moisture therefore it’s essential to ensure it’s
getting a regular supply of water. Adding water
daily or alternate days is good. Make sure the
soil doesn’t get too saturated, that’s why
proper draining is important to avoid rotting. A
warm environment is also essential for growth
of ginger. If you have sufficient access to
sunlight that is sufficient. If you cannot get the
pot into enough sunlight you can place it below
a light bulb for proper warmth. Ginger requires
constant 75 degrees (24 C).
Another important thing to consider is that the
ginger plant cannot stand strong winds
therefore keep the growing pot inside a room,
not in an open garden. Direct exposure to the
sun is not good for ginger plants.
When it’s time to harvest the grown ginger dig
in the soil and cut the pieces of ginger off that
you want to use. Whenever you cut the rhizome,
make sure you plant another one to replace it.
By doing so you can grow ginger for a long time
and enjoy it fresh whenever you like.