Ginger is a medicinal plant that is currently very popular, largely due to its numerous applications and therapeutic remedies, in addition to its good aroma and spicy flavor. In fact, it has been used for a long time in Asia for its many properties.
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There are many people who want to have their own plant in their home garden, and if they want to know how to plant ginger, in this article we are going to explain the steps you must follow to do so.
Main benefits of ginger
Consuming ginger has numerous health benefits, some of the most important being the following:
- Prevents the appearance of cramps.
- Reduces menstrual and rheumatic pain.
- Contributes to the improvement of blood flow.
- Eliminates vertigo and dizziness.
- You reduce nausea.
- It is an effective natural remedy against the common cold.
- Helps reduce stress levels.
- It is a natural antidepressant.
- Fights premature aging.
- You reduce migraines.
- Activates digestive juices.
- Prevents ovarian cancer and colon cancer.
- Improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients.
- Reduces inflammation and facilitates digestion.
These are just some of the many benefits of ginger consumption.
Types of ginger
There are different types of ginger, some of the most common being the following:
- Spiral Ginger: It is indigenous to the region of Southeast Asia. It can grow in a wide variety of climatic conditions, with reddish-colored flowers. Its blooming season is in summer.
- Hidden ginger: In this variety the flowers are hidden in the leaves. It is a deciduous plant that has green or multi-colored leaves and branched rhizomes. It has the particularity that it grows and reproduces very easily.
- Zingier: It has an upright stem and is characterized by its yellow flowers. Its rhizomes are branched and warty. The tubers have a milky substance that is used to prepare shampoos.
- Ginger butterfly lily: It owes its name to the fact that its flowers look like the wings of a butterfly, a plant that can reach two meters in height. It can be presented in different shades such as orange, yellow, red and white.
- Globe: In this variety the flowers hang from the stem, with long leaves and short stems. It blooms in the month of July and continues until the fall. It is of a simple growth.
- Alpine: This variety has a stem similar to that of a banana tree, with folded leaves.
Instructions for planting ginger
To plant ginger you must follow the following steps:
- First of all, you must prepare the land of the garden or the pot, making sure that it has adequate drainage to prevent it from flooding. You should also prepare the ground using compost or humus.
- Then you must fill the land or pot, including a part of fertilizer or humus and three times as much organic soil.
- Later you must take a piece of ginger root, which you can easily find in seed stores, horticulture or nurseries. Then you must introduce the ginger root into the soil. Each piece should be introduced horizontally to a depth of between 5 and 10 cm, making the shoots look up. Each piece of ginger requires about 20 cm of space in the ground, something that you should take into account.
- Then you must cover the root with soil, but trying to keep the shoots flush with it.
- When you have already done the previous step, it will be time to water the land. To do this you must wet the soil with plenty of water but without flooding. Check the soil every day and water before it dries out completely. Don’t overdo the watering.
- Once a month you should fertilize the land in which you have planted ginger, especially if the land is poor or you want to improve the quality. In the event that the substrate is fertile, it will not be necessary.
- When you have already carried out all these previous steps, you will only have to wait, taking into account that ginger is a plant that grows slowly, especially in temperate climates. Once about three weeks have passed since planting you will see the first shoots. When the mulch has sprouted it will keep it at a warm temperature. Ginger can be harvested four months after sprouting.
What do you need to plant ginger?
- Piece of ginger root or rhizome.
- Pot or orchard.
- Land.
- Passes
Tips for planting Ginger
- Ginger should be sown during the spring, being advisable to do it at the beginning or during the first two months.
- It is a tropical plant that does not resist frost and does not tolerate direct sunlight, so you must take this into account when looking for the most appropriate area to plant it.
- Try to keep the ginger at a temperature between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.
- To protect it from frost it is preferable to grow it indoors in pots.
- To increase the temperature indoors, you can use vine-type double-coated roofs.
- If you are going to plant it outdoors, try to plant it in sunny places. In the event that temperatures are very low, you can resort to the use of thermal blankets.
- It is recommended that you perform drip irrigation to be able to regulate the flow of water.
- In the event that the soil is very clay, it is advisable to add organic matter to it.
- Allow the plant to mature before harvesting, as ginger develops a much stronger flavor if allowed to develop in the soil.