Lexi Webster
Ginger is a lush-looking tropical plant that can grow up to 1 metre tall. It is a warm-season crop that can be grown in Victoria, Australia, by mimicking a tropical environment. This means finding a spot with humidity, moderate shade, and regular watering. In cooler climates, ginger can be grown in a pot, which can be moved indoors when it gets colder. To grow ginger, cut a rhizome into 3-centimetre-long pieces, ensuring each piece has at least one 'eye' or bud, and plant them 5 to 10 centimetres deep in well-drained soil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical, subtropical, warm-temperate |
| Location | Victoria, Australia |
| Temperature | Hot, humid, with rain |
| Sunlight | Full sun or part shade, at least 3 hours of full sun daily |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist, enriched with organic matter |
| Pests and diseases | Bacterial Wilt, Leaf Spots, Root Rot, Fusarium Wilt, slugs, snails |
| Harvest | 8 months of warm-weather growing time, rhizomes |
| Pot size | Minimum 300mm wide and deep, or 40 litres |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right soil and location
Ginger is a warm-season crop that grows abundantly in tropical climates. In Victoria, Australia, it is best to mimic a tropical environment—that is, hot, humid, and rainy. If growing ginger outdoors, choose a sheltered garden bed in a spot that receives filtered light or bright shade and has well-drained soil. Drainage is important as wet soil can cause the ginger to rot.
In Melbourne, for instance, you can grow ginger outdoors during the day as long as you can find a spot with humidity, moderate shade, and regular watering. However, as the nights get colder, the plants will grow slower and eventually start to yellow off for harvesting. You could try growing ginger indoors in a bathroom to prolong its life, but it will need some sun for growth and will be more prone to diseases without exposure to a breeze. If growing ginger in a pot, you can move it inside as temperatures drop and test if that works for your plant.
If growing ginger in a garden bed, prepare the soil by weeding it thoroughly, digging it over to loosen it, and adding aged animal manure or compost. Keep the area free of weeds until planting. If growing ginger in a pot, use a good-quality potting mix and make sure your container is large enough for mature plants; a minimum of 300 mm or 40 litres is recommended. Ginger is a rainforest plant and loves lots of organic matter in the soil, so you can also add some compost to your potting mix.
Ginger plants need a well-drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. They can be grown in full sun or part shade. Choose a location that will receive at least three hours of full sun each day. A position that receives morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal.
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Preparing the rhizome
Ginger is susceptible to pests and diseases, so it's important to prepare the rhizome correctly before planting. Firstly, choose a healthy, plump rhizome from your last crop or from a nursery. Avoid using shop-bought ginger, as it may be carrying diseases or pests from overseas that can cause problems when planted in Australia. Ensure the rhizome has at least one 'eye' or bud, as this is where the shoots will develop. The rhizome should be organic and have several knobbly bits, which will turn into growing shoots.
Next, cut the rhizome into 3 cm long pieces, making sure each piece has several eyes or buds. The direction of the eyes doesn't matter, as long as they are covered by soil. You can plant the rhizomes with the knobbly bits facing upwards, but it's not essential, as the growing tips will find their way upwards even if they are facing sideways.
Before planting, enrich the soil with organic matter by mixing in compost, aged animal manure, or a soil improver and fertiliser product. You can also add some sugar cane or bark chips to help retain moisture. Ginger thrives in rainforest-like conditions, so the soil should be rich in organic matter.
Finally, plant the rhizomes 5-10 cm deep, leaving 20 cm between each piece. If you are planting multiple rhizomes in a pot, make sure the pot is at least 300 mm wide and deep, and use a good-quality potting mix. Place the pot in a sheltered spot with bright or partial shade and good drainage.
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Planting
Ginger is a warm-season crop and a lush-looking tropical plant that can grow up to 1 metre tall. It can be grown in Victoria, Australia, by mimicking a tropical environment as closely as possible. This means providing hot, humid conditions with plenty of water and moderate shade.
Choose a sheltered garden bed with filtered light or partial/bright shade. The location should receive at least 3 hours of sunlight a day, with morning sun and afternoon shade being ideal. Well-drained soil is essential to prevent root rot, and you can improve drainage by planting on raised ridges. Prepare the soil by weeding thoroughly, digging it over to loosen it, and adding aged animal manure or compost. You can also mix in a soil improver and fertiliser to create soil that is rich in organic matter.
Ginger can be grown from store-bought rhizomes (root pieces of ginger) or small potted ginger plants. To grow from a rhizome, cut the rhizome into 3-centimetre-long pieces, ensuring each piece has at at least one 'eye' or bud, from which shoots will develop. Plant each piece 5-10 centimetres deep, leaving 20 centimetres between pieces. The 'eye' should be pointing up, but it doesn't matter which way up it is as long as it's covered by soil.
If growing in a pot, use a good-quality potting mix and add some compost. Choose a pot at least 300 millimetres wide and deep, and place it in a sheltered spot with bright or partial shade. You can start your rhizomes in individual smaller pots and then transfer them to a larger pot, or you can put several rhizomes into a very large pot and leave them there for their growing life.
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Care and maintenance
Ginger is a lush-looking tropical plant that can grow up to 1 metre tall. It is a warm-season crop and thrives in warm and humid climates. It is a herbaceous perennial in mild climates and is ready to harvest when the leaves start to yellow or die in autumn. In tropical and subtropical areas, ginger can be evergreen.
To care for your ginger plant, make sure it receives lots of water, keeping the soil moist but not wet. You can apply an organic mulch over the soil surface, such as bark chips or sugar cane, to help retain moisture. Feed your plant every 1-2 weeks with a soluble plant food to promote healthy growth and a great harvest.
When growing ginger, it is important to be mindful of pests and diseases. Ginger can be prone to diseases like Bacterial Wilt, Leaf Spots, and Root Rot, which can affect the foliage or the rhizome. There is no home-garden spray to control these diseases, so it is important to take preventive measures. Plant ginger in well-drained soil and only use clean and healthy rhizomes. Water your plant at soil level, not on the leaves, and practice crop rotation. Curling leaves can be a sign of sap-sucking pests like Aphids or diseases like Fusarium Wilt, so keep an eye out for any changes in the leaves.
If you are growing ginger in a cooler climate, such as Victoria, it is recommended to grow it in a pot so that you can move it indoors or to a warmer location during cold weather. Choose a sheltered spot with bright or partial shade, and make sure the pot is at least 300 mm wide and deep. You can also grow ginger indoors, such as in a bathroom, to prolong its life, but ensure it still receives some sunlight and breeze to prevent diseases.
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Harvesting
Ginger is ready to harvest when the leaves start to yellow or die in autumn. In tropical and subtropical areas, ginger can be evergreen. Before harvesting, reduce watering to allow the soil to dry out. Dig up the entire plant and separate the rhizomes. Some can be used to replant while the rest can be used for cooking. Wash the soil off the rhizome with running water and leave it to dry before using or storing.
In Victoria, Australia, the climate is typically hot and dry in summer and cold in winter. Some regions will experience frosts and snow. Therefore, growing ginger outdoors in Victoria can be challenging. To maximise your harvest, create the longest possible growing period by starting your plants as soon as the weather warms up in September. This can be tricky, as cold snaps and frosts still occur, so protection of your plants in the early months is essential. You can grow ginger outdoors in Victoria during the day as long as you can find a spot with humidity, moderate shade, and water regularly. However, as the nights get colder, the plants will grow slower and eventually start to yellow off for harvesting around April. You could try growing ginger in a pot so you can move it indoors as temperatures get colder.
If you are growing ginger in a pot, choose a pot at least 300 mm wide and deep. Place the pot in a sheltered spot in bright or partial shade. In Victoria, you can also try growing ginger in a greenhouse or similar to keep the plant safe from cold winter nights and frost.
The best time to plant ginger in Victoria is in spring, to allow it 8 months of warm-weather growing time prior to harvest.
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Frequently asked questions
Mid to late spring is an ideal time for planting ginger. Start your plants as soon as the weather warms up in September.
It's best to mimic a tropical environment – i.e. hot, humid, with rain. Growing outside should be fine during the day as long as you can find a spot with humidity, moderate shade and then water regularly. However, as the nights get colder, the plants will grow slower and eventually start to yellow off for harvesting around April.
Drainage is important as wet soil can lead to ginger rotting. Ginger grows best in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
Ginger plants are susceptible to pests and diseases such as bacterial leaf spot, Fusarium wilt, and verticillium wilt. Slugs and snails can also cause significant damage to young shoots.
