Hi Diane and Group,
I have never attempted to grow ginger but have read about it. Judith Benn
Hurley gives the details in her book The Good Herb.
"The part of the ginger plant normally used is the root, which looks like
a smooth skinned, gnarly potato with several protruding fingers. That's
why it's sometimes called a "hand" of ginger.
To grow ginger, set a piece of an organically grown "hand" on a sunny
counter and wait about a week for it to begin to sprout. (Unless you live
in a warm climate, you should plant your ginger indoors.) Put the
sprouted "hand" in a large pot filled with a sandy version of the
standard herb mixture, combining two parts garden or potting soil, two
parts peat, two parts sand, and one part compost or composted cow manure.
Soak with warm water, and from then on, be sure that the soil never dries
out. Give it as much sun as you can, at least six hours a day, which can
be augmented with ninety-watt halogen floods, placed about three feet
from the top of the plant. In about ten days, you should be rewarded by
the appearance of bamboo-like stems and leaves. The leaves are quite
aromatic and can be minced and used as a garnish for spicy soups and
salads.
You can, of course, wait six to nine months, and then dig up the roots
and eat them too. But many herb lovers prefer to buy ginger for
consumption, and keep their plants to enjoy the attractive tropical
appearance. "
Let me know if you try it!
Barb
"One of these days, I'll find a great quotation to put here"
Barb G
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