Permapotes

Ginger

Ginger: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar

Culinary ginger, Zingiber officinale, is a herbaceous perennial in the Zingiberaceae family. Its name also refers to the spice obtained from its rhizome. Although ginger root is a common expression, this part is a branching underground stem with buds that produces roots. It acts both as a storage organ and as the basis for renewed plant growth.

The rhizome forms branches resembling fingers. A beige to light brown surface contrasts with pale yellow, aromatic flesh that can be more or less fibrous. Young rhizomes are generally more tender and have thin skin, while more developed ones offer a different texture. A piece’s appearance therefore depends on its stage of development as well as its size. The knobbly shape is a normal part of its identity.

Above the ground, ginger carries long, narrow leaves on upright shoots. What looks like a leafy stem is a pseudostem formed by overlapping leaf bases. This arrangement gives the plant a light outline, quite different from the knobbly rhizome familiar in the kitchen. The above-ground and underground parts nevertheless belong to the same plant, showing two sides of its structure.

Ginger flavour combines a distinctive aroma with pungency. You can find it in stir-fries, curries, soups and sauces, as well as biscuits, gingerbread and other baked goods. Fresh, dried and ground, candied or pickled ginger does not offer exactly the same texture or aromatic balance. It also flavours drinks and culinary infusions, adding another use beyond savoury and sweet dishes.

The family also includes turmeric, cardamom and numerous ornamental plants. Japanese ginger and beehive ginger name other species rather than varieties of Zingiber officinale. A name containing ginger is therefore insufficient to identify the culinary product described here. The botanical name maintains a useful distinction between plants with different forms and uses.

Tropical in origin, ginger is sensitive to cold. Its rhizome can renew shoots in favourable conditions, but being perennial does not guarantee survival outdoors in every climate. Flowering is rare in cultivation, particularly in containers. Its interest combines the upright foliage of a tropical plant with a spice whose aroma is readily recognisable.

Ginger
Ginger
Characteristics
  • Lifecycle : Perennial
  • Exposure : Full Sun
  • Frost Hardiness : Frost Sensitive
  • Cultivation Difficulty : Challenging
  • Mature height : 60 cm
Sowing & Planting
  • Greenhouse crops : Not suited to the available shelters
  • Greenhouse Growing : Recommended
  • Sowing Depth : 2 cm
  • Plant Spacing : 20 cm
  • Row Spacing : 30 cm
Maintenance
  • Maintenance : Moderate
  • Water Requirements : High
Other characteristics
  • Soil Type : Humus-rich
  • Soil pH Preference : Neutral
  • Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Pollination : Insect-pollinated
  • Propagation : Layering