Some of the best tips for growing ginger generally include selecting healthy ginger tubers, which are also called ginger roots, for growing, keeping the young ginger plants in the shade while they are maturing, and bringing ginger plants indoors when the weather drops below 50 F (10 C). Some people advise starting ginger indoors rather than immediately placing young plants outside so that they can establish themselves without exposure to the elements. It is also generally considered a good idea to work lots of compost into the soil the ginger will be planted in so the young plants can benefit from the many nutrients found in compost.
Growing ginger successfully might be partially dependent on the ginger tubers selected for planting. People who are looking for ginger to plant either at a farmer's market or at the grocery store might notice that some ginger tubers are dry and flimsy looking, while others are fatter with many small buds on them. The fatter ginger tubers are typically the best ones to select, although a person may be successful using the weaker tubers as well if he is careful to take good care of them while they establish themselves.
Many garden experts advise starting ginger in small pots indoors in an area not in direct sunlight. Ginger is often very vulnerable to the elements, and it usually cannot tolerate strong wind or direct sunlight when very young. As ginger plants mature, wind and sunlight are typically not of as much concern. Water is also necessary for growing ginger, but ginger normally requires only light watering at first. It is usually acceptable to increase the amount of water given to ginger plants as they begin to mature, but it is probably best to keep them dry as often as possible in the winter when they become dormant.
Most people plant in the spring when growing ginger and then harvest the ginger in the fall. The majority of ginger plants will be roughly 2 feet (61 cm) tall when it is time for fall harvest. If ginger is not harvested in the fall, it might grow to be as tall as 4 feet (1.22 m) within one year. It generally takes an entire year for ginger plants to reach full maturity. The small buds that form at the base of most ginger plants can typically be cut off and replanted to create more ginger plants.