How to Grow Ginger: A Homegrown Aussie Favourite
Ginger—some call it backyard gold, others just love the zing. Whatever you call it, this spicy root (Zingiber officinale) is one of the easiest and most rewarding things to grow in your own patch. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned gardener or just having a crack for the first time—ginger’s a beauty. It’s low-maintenance, delicious, and once you start growing your own, you’ll never want to buy the store-bought stuff again.
Why Bother Growing Your Own Ginger?
Let’s be real. The ginger you get from the shops has usually been sitting there for weeks, sometimes even months. It’s often a bit shrivelled, sometimes mouldy, and a lot of the time it’s been treated to stop it sprouting. Growing your own means fresh, chemical-free, and way more flavourful ginger at your fingertips. Plus, it’s pretty satisfying to dig up a fat, healthy rhizome you’ve grown yourself.
Picking the Right Ginger to Grow
The easiest way to get started is with a fresh ginger rhizome. You can grab one from a garden centre, a seed supplier, or even your local supermarket. Just look for a firm piece with a few little ‘eyes’ or buds starting to poke through.
Quick Tip: If you want top-quality rhizomes suited for Aussie conditions, check out Seeds Australia.
The Best Time to Plant Ginger in Australia
Ginger loves the heat, so plant it in spring or early summer when the soil has warmed up. If you’re in the tropics, lucky you—you can pretty much plant it any time of year. For those in cooler spots, hold off until the risk of frost has well and truly passed.
How to Plant Ginger: Step-by-Step Guide
- Prep the Rhizome: Cut the ginger into chunks, making sure each piece has at least one bud. Let them sit for a day or two to dry out and form a protective layer.
- Pick the Right Spot: Ginger prefers warm, sheltered positions with dappled light. Too much direct sun can fry the leaves.
- Get the Soil Ready: Loose, rich, well-draining soil is the way to go. Mixing in some compost or manure will give it a nice boost.
- Planting: Bury the rhizomes about 2–5cm deep with the buds facing up. Give them some room—about 20–30cm apart.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Overwatering can lead to rot, while letting it dry out too much will stunt growth.
Looking After Your Ginger
- Watering: Give it a good drink when the soil feels dry, but don’t drown it.
- Mulching: A nice thick layer of mulch keeps the moisture in and protects the roots.
- Feeding: Every few weeks, a bit of liquid seaweed or worm juice will help it along.
- Weeding: Keep the area tidy—ginger doesn’t like competition.
- Pests: It’s generally trouble-free, but keep an eye out for slugs and snails.
How Long Until You Can Harvest?
Ginger isn’t a ‘plant today, harvest tomorrow’ kind of crop—it needs 8–10 months to fully mature. But if you’re keen, you can sneak a bit early. After about five months, you can dig around the edges and snap off a piece without harming the plant.
How to Harvest and Store Ginger
- For Mild, Young Ginger: Harvest around 5 months—the skin will be thin and super easy to peel.
- For Mature Ginger: Wait the full 8–10 months—the flavour will be stronger, and the skin tougher.
- Harvesting: Gently dig around the plant with a fork and lift the rhizomes out.
- Storing: Fresh ginger lasts weeks in the fridge, or you can dry or freeze it to keep it longer.
Growing Ginger in Pots
No garden? No problem. Ginger grows great in pots. Just make sure the pot is wide and shallow (at least 30cm deep), has good drainage, and is placed somewhere warm.
Tips for a Bigger, Better Harvest
- Rotate your crop every couple of years to prevent disease.
- Pair it up—ginger grows well with basil, chillies, and lemongrass.
- Keep it warm—in cooler areas, bring pots indoors over winter.
- Perennial Bonus: In warm regions, leave some rhizomes in the ground and they’ll regrow year after year.
Fun Facts About Ginger
- It’s been used in traditional medicine for centuries for digestion, nausea, and colds.
- It’s closely related to turmeric and cardamom.
- Ancient sailors chewed ginger to prevent seasickness.
- The fresher it is, the spicier the kick!
Final Thought
If you’ve never grown ginger before, give it a crack. It’s one of those plants that looks after itself once it’s going, and the payoff is worth the wait. Whether you’re throwing it into a stir-fry, steeping it in tea, or making homemade ginger beer, fresh ginger beats store-bought every time.
So, what are you waiting for? Plant some ginger and enjoy the spicy goodness of your very own homegrown crop!
