Whether you have an upset stomach or a cold, drinking ginger tea can make all the difference. In fact, ginger has so many health benefits that it’s hard to list them all.
This small but powerful rhizome has been well researched for its medicinal properties against colds, sinus problems, fevers, morning sickness and nausea. It’s no wonder why people who drink ginger tea or use it in their meals often need to restock!
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| Credit:healthliving.info |
Fortunately, growing ginger in a container at home is easy.
Growing Ginger At Home Isn’t That Hard…
Step 1: Soak Your Ginger
Many ginger roots sold commercially are coated with a growth inhibitor, which prevent them from sprouting in the grocery store (even organic ones).
So, your first step after buying your ginger is to let it soak in water for 24 hours before slicing it up to plant.
Step 2: Look For Growth Buds
Look for pieces with well developed “eyes” or growth buds. (The buds look like little horns at the end of a piece or “finger”).
The indentations on the surface of the root is where the sprout will grow.
If the ginger you have doesn’t have any, you can even encourage them to do so by leaving them near a windowsill before you plant. (This just takes a few days)
Step 3: Choose a Wide Container
Because ginger’s roots grow horizontally, the width of your container will be more important than the depth. Once you’ve decided on what kind of container you’ll use, proceed to filling it with a rich potting soil that will drain well.
Step 4: Plant Your Ginger
Select pieces of the ginger knob that have “eyes” on them. Place the piece of ginger with the eyes facing up into the soil, and cover with about and inch and a half of soil.
How To Care For Your Ginger Plant
Place your ginger plant in indirect sunlight, somewhat warm. No wind or direct sun. This is why ginger makes such a great indoor grower. Soil should be damp at all times but not soggy, so water regularly. You can probably get a couple roots to grow nicely in a single twelve-inch container; they can grow to around 2 feet tall indoors. via OrganicHealthAlliance
After about eight months, your ginger plant will be mature. At that point, you can separate the rhizomes by pulling off a section of the plant including a piece of the rhizome. Transplanting is as easy as setting that rhizome into a new container of soil. Ginger is an easy root to share with a friend.
How To Harvest Ginger
Although the ginger plant may take many months to mature, you can harvest ginger when the plant is three or four months old.
When you push away the soil from around the rhizome, you’ll notice that ginger rhizomes look knobby. You will also see roots reaching outward and downward from the rhizome. The rhizome is the edible portion of ginger. The roots can be cleaned off as you clean the rhizome to eat.
To enjoy a bit of ginger, simply uncover a piece of rhizome, and trim off one of the finger-like extensions. You can harvest ginger in this manner anytime you wish.
However, you may find that you love it so much that you’ll need more than one rhizome planted at a time. You can alternate snipping from your plants if you grow more than one.
Before you eat ginger, you should rinse it and peel the skin off with a potato peeler. Then, enjoy your ginger freshly sliced or grated.
Or, dry your ginger by slicing it paper thin and setting it on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in an oven or outside in a dry, sunny location.
Ginger may take several hours or several days to dry. When it’s completely dried, it can safely be stored in plastic bags.
You can also grate your dried ginger with a coffee grinder. Grated ginger is a delicious result of an easy gardening project! via Gardening Channel
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