Ever wonder if that knobby ginger root in your kitchen could actually grow into a plant? It can, and it’s surprisingly simple. You can do this in a regular pot on your counter or patio.
Here is a helpful diagram that shows the basic steps, but after trying this myself, I’ve picked up some practical tips that really help.
Here’s how to grow your own ginger supply:
1. Pick the Right Ginger
Start with organic ginger from the grocery store. Regular ginger is usually treated to prevent sprouting, which defeats the whole purpose.
Find a piece that’s firm and has several small bumps (called eyes or buds). These are where new growth starts, similar to potato eyes.
Cut the root into sections about 1-2 inches long. Each section needs at least one or two of those bumps.
Pro tip: Before planting, leave the cut pieces out to dry for a day or two. This helps the cut ends seal over and prevents rot once they go in the soil.
2. Give It a Soak
Put your dried pieces in a bowl of water at room temperature for about 24 hours. This washes away any leftover growth inhibitor and gets the root ready to sprout.
3. Get the Planting Setup Right
Ginger grows outward rather than down, so pick a container that’s wider than it is deep. Make sure it has drainage holes.
Use a potting mix that’s rich in organic matter and drains easily. Mix in some compost if you have it.
Bury each piece about 1-2 inches down with the bumps pointing toward the sky. If you can’t tell which end is which, don’t worry—just lay it on its side and it’ll figure itself out.
Find a warm location with plenty of light, but keep it out of direct sun. Near a window usually works.
4. Watch Your Watering
This part trips people up.
Right after planting, add just enough water to dampen the soil. During the first few weeks while you’re waiting for sprouts (anywhere from 2-6 weeks), keep things slightly damp. A light spray every couple days does the trick. Overwatering at this stage causes rot.
Once you see green growth, water more consistently. The soil should stay moist like a wrung-out washcloth, never soggy.
5. Wait It Out
Depending on your conditions, you’ll see a shoot pop up sometime between 2-6 weeks. Once it does, it grows into tall, leafy stems that look almost like bamboo stalks.
6. When to Harvest
You’ve got options here:
For baby ginger (after 4-5 months): Carefully dig around the edge of the pot and snap off a small chunk of the new growth. This young ginger has thin skin, mild flavor, and you can use it without peeling.
For full-sized ginger (after 8-10 months): Wait until the leaves start yellowing and drooping. That tells you the plant has finished its cycle. Dump out the pot and collect all the ginger that’s formed.
Keep a piece or two from what you harvest, and you can repeat the whole thing.