Herb Gardening

Ginger

Through out history ginger has been one of the most widely used plants in cuisine and medicine. The properties are just amazing. Ginger is used to help in many medical responses to our body when we just do not feel well. That being said, ginger is a part of many cuisines all over the world. Oriental cooking just would not be the same if ginger were not used. This wonderful herb gives a spicy bite to the cuisine and pleases the palate in such a way that no other herb can do.

Culinary uses: Often used as a spice to flavor dishes such as seafood or goat meat and vegetarian cuisine. Ginger acts as a useful food preservative, and has been proven to kill the harmful bacteria salmonella

Medical Use: Aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea. Helps treat the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches, and menstrual pain.

Growing Ginger

Growing your very own ginger is easy if you know the basics. In this article we will discuss the proper way to grow this herb, the benefits, and how to use it in cooking as well as in your holistic healing right at home.

The root of ginger can be found in most grocery stores. You can start your own plant right from this root. The root is a rhizome, meaning that this is an underground root that lies horizontally and sends shoots up along the length of the root. Each of these shoots can be used to create a new plant! Warm humid climates are the best growing condition for ginger. Colder climates need to pot the root and bring the plant inside when the temperatures drop below 50° F. 

Rich potting soil or soil that is enriched with plenty of compost is just right to grow the rhizome in. Soak the root in warm water overnight. Using a pot that is about 14” across and 12 inches deep will allow plenty of growing room and adequate drainage. Peat moss at the bottom of the pot helps suspend the soil so that there is good drainage. Just below the surface of the soil in a small depression lay the root long ways. Make sure the buds on the root are facing up. Cover with soil to a depth of three inches and wait for the shoots to start sprouting up, giving you many plants from the one root. 

The pot should be placed in diffused light to begin with, stronger light as the shoots leaf out. Water sparingly at first, and then once shoots appear, increase the watering to about one cup of water every other day. Using distilled water will help to prevent any chemical reaction the plant might have to tap water. Ginger needs to be kept warm at all times. The root will send up shoots when the temperature reaches 75 to 85 degrees. Ginger plants will grow to heights of two to four feet. 

Ginger can be used raw, dried and ground. Many recipes from the Orient call for fresh ginger root. Baking usually requires the ground ginger, and holistic use often calls for dried ginger. This herb has been used to help with digestive problems, morning sickness in pregnancy, and diarrhea. Holistic practitioners have prescribed ginger to help treat headaches, symptoms of the common cold and flu, and as a tea for painful menstruation. Some doctors have even started using ginger to help with the after effects of cancer chemotherapy.