Loamy soils allow water to drain freely, which will help prevent the rhizomes from becoming waterlogged. Thick mulch can also provide nutrients, retain water, and help control weeds. In early spring, plant parts of the underground rhizomes. Each piece should be plump with well-developed growth buds, or eyes. A good source of ginger for planting is fresh rhizomes from another grower. If you are buying ginger from a store, soak the rhizomes in water overnight because they are sometimes treated with a growth retardant.
Plant the rhizomes 6 to 8 inches apart, 2 to 4 inches deep, and with the growth buds pointing upward. They can be planted whole or in smaller pieces with a couple of growing buds each. Ginger plants will grow to about 2 to 3 feet tall.
If the soil is less than ideal, add a slow-release organic fertilizer at planting. Afterward, liquid fertilizer may be applied every few weeks. These soil amendments are especially needed in regions of heavy rainfall, where rain can leach essential nutrients from the soil.
You can also add compost, which will supply nutrients as well as retain water in the soil. Ginger roots benefit from fertilizer containing high levels of phosphorus P. Have the soil tested first and amend the soil before planting according to the test recommendations.
Do not allow the plants to dry out while they are actively growing. As the weather cools, reduce watering. Then, the leaves will dry out and do the same. Different varieties of ginger produce flowers of varying colors. Use a hand trowel to dig a circle around the green shoots. Use a trowel and your hands to dig 2 to 4 inches 5. Keep digging down until you reach the rhizome. Most ginger rhizomes sit about 2 to 4 inches 5. Pull the ginger plant out of the ground. Once you've exposed the root system, use your trowel to gently leverage the entire plant out of the ground.
If you happen to break apart pieces of the root when pulling upwards, it's okay. Use your trowel to dig those broken sections out of the soil. Dig out a single piece of ginger instead of the whole rhizome. Pick a spot 2 to 4 inches 5. Look for a rhizome while you are digging and if you locate one, use your trowel to slice off an end piece. Then, refill your hole with dirt and the ginger will continue to mature and grow. It only takes minutes and doesn't harm the plant.
If you don't find a rhizome with your initial small hole, dig slightly to one side or another. Part 3. Wash off your harvested ginger with warm water. Hold the entire ginger plant under a stream of warm water and scrub it vigorously with your hands or a clean scrub brush.
Ginger can be tough to clean due to its unusual shape, so make sure that you wash off all of the nooks and crannies. If you are worried that it isn't clean enough, let it dry for a few minutes and repeat the process. For an even greater level of cleanliness, use a vegetable wash available at your local grocery or gardening store. Cut the shoots away from the rhizome root with a knife.
Place the entire chunk of ginger on a cutting board and cleanly separate the 2 sections. You can either discard the shoots or use them as a cooking garnish. Set aside the rhizome for preparation for cooking or storing. Use a sharp knife to chop the shoots into tiny pieces. Then, place a few pinches on top of food as a garnish to give it a mild taste of ginger. Peel off the skin with a paring knife prior to cooking.
Place your ginger on a cutting board. Hold it firmly with 1 hand and use the other hand to hold the knife. Slide the knife's blade just under the rough outer skin and remove it in strips.
Your goal is to expose the lighter colored flesh underneath. Don't worry about how it looks, just keep going. When you are finished, hold the peeled ginger under the water to rinse off any dirt or debris. Freeze any remaining ginger in 1 inch 2. Place your unpeeled ginger root on a cutting board and cut it into cubes. Then, arrange the pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Freeze them, uncovered, for hours. Remove the cubes and place them into freezer bags for storage. Another benefit of this method is that you can take out single pieces to use for recipes without wasting the rest of the ginger.
If you live in a tropical climate, you can plant these ginger rhizomes outdoors at any time after shoots emerge. For gardeners in most of the U. These structures help create the tropical environment ginger is looking for, especially if you live in a humid area and can close up your tunnel tight. Give ginger a place that gets plenty of light but no direct sun and where it is protected from the wind. Plant the ginger rhizome pieces 6 to 8 inches apart at the bottom of a 1-foot furrow.
Cover them with 2 to 4 inches of soil with the sprouted bits pointing up. According to the Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service, you should plant ginger in loose, deep, well-drained soil. Keep the pH on the acidic side—5. As the ginger grows, use the additional soil from the furrow to hill it about every four to six weeks.
This will encourage the ginger rhizomes to grow up rather than just across. Ginger likes consistent but not heavy watering—particularly later in its growth, when both the ginger foliage and the ginger rhizome are growing.
Harvesting Ginger You can actually start harvesting ginger at four months, but just a little piece of rhizome at a time. You definitely want to harvest all of your ginger before your first freeze.
0コメント