You receive health benefits compliments of nature when growing ginger for your family. Ginger, Zingiber Officinale, provides us with healthy choices for food flavorings and herbal medicine. This valuable spice has an ancient past. The Greeks, Chinese, and Egyptians used it throughout history.
The Ginger plant is acclimated to tropical climates of its native forests in Asia. When growing ginger, it is important to keep the plants in a warm, moist environment. This plant likes it hot, but not bright, direct sunlight. Whether inside or outdoors, you can plant ginger in a flowerpot. If you live in a cold climate, the plants will need to be indoors for the winter.
Growing Ginger
You can grow your own plant from a ginger root that you purchase at the local supermarket. The night before you plant, soak the roots in warm water. Place the root in a pot filled with loose, rich potting mix. Insure the container has excellent drainage. Apply peat moss or organic compost around the plant. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and place it in a sunny spot where it will get indirect sunlight.
When the first shoots appear, remove the plastic bag. It is safe to move the plant into the garden when all danger of frost is past. When growing ginger, water it regularly, but avoid the soil becoming saturated.
A growing ginger plant can reach up to a height of four feet. As it grows, its slender stems and glossy leaves may stretch up to a foot long. For the plant to prosper, it will need high humidity. Mist the plants often, and provide light shade and rich soil.
The best time for growing it is in the spring. It usually takes three to five months for a plant to harvest. It is not necessary to unearth the whole plant for harvesting. Just poke holes in the soil gingerly and cut off what you need.
To preserve harvested ginger, it can be sun-dried in a dry cupboard or refrigerated.
Growing Ginger for cooking
Fresh ginger spices up ordinary stir-fry cooking. It can be used to flavor meats, vegetables, deserts, and drinks. Add ginger spice to your cookies, teas, or other recipes. One third of a teaspoon of ginger, when crushed into a powder, equals a serving.
Growing Ginger for medical reasons
Pregnant women often use ginger to relieve a stomachache or morning sickness. It is made of a substance called gingerol that relieves nausea. It is proven safe to take during pregnancy, all natural, and it causes no ill side effects. Ginger is also used to treat migraines and arthritis. Travelers who rather not take motion sickness tablets can use ginger to settle their stomach. Growing ginger to use in tea is practiced in homeopathic medicine against colds and flu.
Growing Ginger Tips
The best ginger is grown organically without pesticides.
Harvest as much ginger as you like, but put a budded piece back to replace what you use.
Do not leave your plant out in the cold. Outside temperatures lower than 50 degrees will stunt the growing ginger and may kill the plant.
Congratulations, on the wise decision of growing ginger. Do not be afraid to get your hands dirty! You will hit pay dirt, with fresh ginger on hand for cooking and taking care of your family's ills. (Not from your cooking!)
Michael Floren has been Growing Ginger for more than a decade. Visit http://grow-herbs.net/ to learn more about growing ginger and other great herbs.
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