You will need:

  • Water 
  • A bowl or container (large enough to hold water and the ginger)
  • A plastic bag 
  • Paper towels 
  • A small flowerpot for planting 
  • Nutrient-rich soil
  • Fertilizer
  • A ginger root 

How to choose the right ginger

The ginger we see in stores is not actually a root, but what is called a rhizome. Rhizomes are the tubular parts of a plant that creep along and send out new shoots and new roots so that the plant keeps growing. Grass grows the same way.  

Finding the perfect ginger rhizome is the key to success in growing it.

  • Step 1: Find a specimen that does not look dried out or, conversely, too wet.
  • Step 2: Look for signs of growth points on it, which look like little horns. This shows that the ginger is capable of sprouting.
  • Step 3: Choose at least three or four healthy ginger rhizomes with good growth points. With that many, at least one is sure to take.

Often in grocery stores ginger is treated with a growth inhibitor to reduce the risk of it sprouting right on the shelf. This can make growing it more difficult.

Soak the rhizome overnight in water to remove all chemicals. 

How to Grow Ginger at Home From a Root Bought at the Store
Photo: Freepik

And here's what to do next

Method 1: Leave the ginger in water until you see that its «horns» have grown. Then plant the rhizome in the ground. 

Method 2: Wrap the rhizome in damp paper towels and place it in a sealable plastic bag until it grows roots 2–3 centimeters long. Then, again, it's time to transplant it into the soil.

When planting ginger in a pot, it is very important to use nutrient-rich soil that retains moisture but does not become waterlogged.

  1. Choose a container for your ginger. Ginger does not grow too large and does not feel cramped, so a small to medium pot will do just fine.
  2. Mix the soil with fertilizer to give the ginger enough food.
  3. Bury the root so that about 2 cm of the top along with the young shoots is above the ground. 

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Caring for ginger

Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. Although some plants like moist soil, ginger is not one of them. Nevertheless, it is a tropical plant, and it needs access to moisture year-round. 

Place the ginger in partial shade and do not leave it under direct sunlight for too long.

Ginger can be harvested after its first year of life. But it tastes best at 2–3 years. When «harvesting», save a few ginger rhizomes for replanting.