What is the best month to plant ginger?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Effectively growing ginger is about timing, and timing is relative to the climate of where you live. If you garden in the north, initiate your indoor sprouts in February, and those in the south can plant directly, outdoors in April. My clients in Maine take advantage of 6 earlier weeks of seasons by starting the rhizomes under grow lights, allowing us to schedule a harvest similar to the tropical yields.
Cold Climates (Zones 3-5)
- Start indoors 8 weeks pre-last frost
- Transplant outdoors mid-May
- Use black plastic mulch to warm soil
Tropical Climates (Zones 9-12)
- Plant year-round in partial shade
- Avoid waterlogged soils during monsoons
- Rotate beds to prevent nematodes
The temperature of the soil will determine your germination success. The temperature is measured by using a probe thermometer, in early spring plants outdoors when the soil is 65°F (18°C) minimum. I usually prepare my garden beds using clear plastic to pre-warm the soil at least 72 hours before I sow the seeds. This technique improved the yields of Montana growers by 30 percent, in a short-season climate.
Acidity Management
- Test pH monthly (ideal 5.5-6.5)
- Add pine needles to lower pH
- Mix wood ash to raise pH
In case of unanticipated frost, it is wise to have preconditioned thermal row covers specified for 8°F (-13°C) to place over the plants. In desert zones, you can avoid the disastrous impact on the plants in the cooler months, so my colleague in Arizona plants October-February under 40% shade cloth to avoid scorching the plants while keeping the root zone temperatures close to 70°F (21°C).
Read the full article: How to Grow Ginger: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
