I love cooking with ginger, but unless I use it frequently, that nice fresh piece of ginger dries out quickly in my refrigerator.
A few years ago, I started growing ginger in my garden, but it only lasted through the spring and summer months. I would inevitably lose the plant over the winter and have to start over again in the spring. Recently, I learned ginger grows well indoors year round!
This is so exciting because nothing compares to using fresh ginger out of the ground. Whether you plan to use it for tea, cooking , or natural remedies, growing it at home gives you the best version the ingredient in the most convenient and affordable way.
How to Start Growing Your Own Ginger:
Next time you go to the store find a nice fresh piece of ginger. Make sure it is not too dried out. Look for places where new shoots may begin to grow. I have found that the best ginger roots for growing can typically be found at local international markets or farmers markets where the product may be sourced closer than the big box stores.
Once you get your ginger root home place it in a shallow bowl of water. Change the water frequently to keep the root fresh and free from mold. After about a week, you should start to see new growth on the root. At this point you can plant it in a pot with a 50/50 mix of soil and compost. Ginger has shallow roots, so it is better to use a wide and shallow pot.
Ginger also grows quickly, so give it a few weeks to establish itself before you start cutting pieces off for use. When you are ready to harvest you do not need to uproot the entire plant. Just feel around in the soil for a piece about the size you need and break or cut that piece away from the plant. Do your best not to disturb the root system of the rest of the plant.
And there you have it, fresh ginger on demand.
