How to Grow Ginger at home?

Ginger is a flowering plant in the family Zingiberaceae. It originated in Island Southeast Asia & was domesticated first by the Austronesian people. People across the world have been using ginger for cooking and medicinal purposes since ancient times. It is used in health drinks, recipes, and tea that is known to boost metabolism as well. The antioxidants and nutrients present in ginger help reduce pain, treat arthritis, and cure various types of infection. Consumption of ginger drastically lowers blood pressure and improves heart disease risk factors. It is also known to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain.

Ginger is a tasty culinary herb that thrives in the tropical climate and spread quite aggressively. One can buy ginger practically anywhere, which can be easily grown inside and harvested all year round. Read on to learn tips and tricks required for producing ginger at home.

1. One needs a living ginger root that is easily available in nurseries, seed companies, or garden centres
2. Choose a root that is firm and has tight skin with several eye buds on it
3. Soak the ginger root in warm water overnight to prepare it for planting
4. Take a shallow, wide plant pot & fill it with rich, well-drained potting soil
5. Place the ginger root in the pot and cover it with 1-2 inches more of soil. Make sure to place the ginger root with the eye bud pointing up. Then start adding water lightly
6. Place the pot in a spot that stays warm and receives a lot of bright light
7. Make sure to keep the soil moist but do not over-water
8. After 2-3 weeks, the ginger shoots will start to come up
9. Water occasionally but deeply after you see growth
10. A few months later, small pieces of ginger can be harvested
11. Move the soil at the edges of the pot. There will be some ginger rhizomes below the surface.
12. Cut off a chunk of the rhizome, then place the rest of the plant back to its pot. Sprinkle on more potting soil and water it to allow it to continue to grow.