Ginger

[Muddypause]

Root ginger; stem ginger - what's the difference? Are they from the same plant? What's the difference in the way you can use them? Can they be grown in the UK?

[The Chili Monster]

Hi Muddypause
a colleague of mine has successfully grown ginger in her conservatory for some time.
I don't think there's any difference between root and stem ginger. What is commonly referred to a the root is actually the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale.
For planting tips, visit:
www.organicgardentips.com/how_to_grow_ginger.html
Further pearls of wisdom can be gleaned from:
http://hometown.aol.com/NewJardin/ginger.html

[Shirley]

Mmmmm I hadn't thought to plant any ginger... don't know why. I love it... and have grown it before in SCOTLAND!!!

Not sure of the differences actually... although I LOVE stem ginger in syrup. I always have some of that in the cupboard. Tarts up a green and black chocolate spread rice cake no end!!!! MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Have just googled and found this - it explains all!! http://www.waitrose.com/frontend/popups ... uidstr=157

[Muddypause]

Those are interesting links; ther's even a link to a ginger grower's forum. I might even have a go at growing some in a container.

From the Waitrose site, it seems that stem ginger is not really from the stem at all - it's just a way of preserving it.

[hedgewizard]

Interesting! Let us know how you get on... I thought about this but it's a finely balanced decision in my place. As with horseradish, I'm not sure if the little bit I use each year is worth the space. Mind you if I could grow and preserve it, it'd make cracking presents!

[hedgewitch]

How peculiar - I was looking at the same site 2 days ago and thnking to myself that I'd like to grow some Ginger!!
I'm up for it - nothing ventured nothing gained etc etc.

[Wombat]

I've grown it here in Sydney and done fairly well!

Nev

[chadspad]

I planted a couple of buds months ago and they both took off very well, so well there are 2 stalks from each bud reaching a good couple of feet high. The growers guide that I was going by says:

In the autumn, reduce the watering and let the pots dry out, which will encourage the plants to form rhizhomes. Lift the rhizhomes carefully and use in cooking.
http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/ ... ow_it.html

My plants still have the green stalks growing tho - would I lift the rhizhomes and cut the stems off or wait til they die off?

[red]

I always thought the roots were - well the roots.. and if you plant a bit that has sprouted.. its a a sort of grass.. so i figured the stem was a chunk of the green sprouty bit... like a chunch of sugar cane or bamboo.

grown it ok in a greenhouse.. but always forgot to water it..... tut

[dibnah]

I have grown ginger before and like many people here it started well but I think I kept it too wet and it rotted in the pot. I just left a piece in the window untill it started to get green buds on then seperated a small part from the main piece and potted it up, and as I remember it grew very fast, although I would not try it this time of year.

[Martin]

whilst looking up how to grow it, I came across this site - http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/ ... ow_it.html - well worth a gander at the whole site too!

[Merry]

Thanks Martin - looks like a really interesting site!

[chadspad]

Its the same link as I put but noone told ME it was a good site (only kidding!). Still doesnt answer my question tho - do I wait for the green plant to die off before I pull up the rhizhomes?

[Millymollymandy]

Why not have a little peek and see? It's what I'd do!

[chadspad]

Im very tempted but the stems are a good 3ft high so wary of snapping them - perhaps I will rope hubby into helping me tomora.