When is the best time to plant ginger?

China's food culture has always been praised by other countries. Ultimately, it has something to do with the ability to use seasonings well. The more common seasonings include onions, ginger , garlic, etc. In addition, cinnamon, bay leaves , etc. are also common spices. In our country, many friends will use their own vegetable gardens to grow some self-sufficient seasoning vegetables . Let’s learn together when is the best time to plant ginger?

When is the best time to plant ginger?

The best time to plant ginger is usually during the spring between April and May. This period of time is considered to be the most suitable because the temperature begins to warm up and the air is humid, which is suitable for the rooting and germination of ginger. Ginger prefers a warm and humid environment, and the most suitable growth temperature is around 25℃. In areas south of the Yangtze River, due to the warmer climate, planting can be done earlier, while in northern areas, it may be necessary to wait until the soil temperature stabilizes at above 16°C before sowing.

For greenhouse cultivation, ginger can be planted all year round because the greenhouse can provide relatively constant temperature and humidity conditions, avoiding the adverse effects of external climate on ginger growth. However, for open-field planting, it can generally only be planted once a year, because ginger has a weak cold resistance and is easily frozen to death in autumn and winter, and the high temperature and low humidity environment in summer will also reduce the survival rate.

When choosing the planting time, you also need to pay attention to cooling and warming measures. When the temperature is low, measures such as covering with protective materials and increasing ventilation should be taken to reduce the impact of temperature; at the same time, when the temperature is high, warming measures should be strengthened to ensure that ginger can grow in a suitable environment.

Where is the best place to grow ginger?

1. Climate conditions

Ginger prefers a warm and humid environment and cannot tolerate low temperatures and frost. The germination temperature is above 16°C, the suitable temperature for seedling growth is 20~25°C, and the suitable temperature for stem and leaf growth is 25~28°C. When the temperature is below 20℃, the growth of ginger will slow down, and when the temperature is above 35℃, the growth of the plant will be inhibited.

Ginger's requirement for light is that it prefers shade but cannot tolerate strong light, and it grows well under the shade of flowers. Under high temperature and strong light conditions, the plants do not grow vigorously, the leaves turn yellow, and photosynthesis decreases, affecting yield. Therefore, ginger should be grown away from direct sunlight, and the light conditions can be adjusted by building a shed for shade or intercropping with tall crops.

2. Soil conditions

Ginger is suitable for planting in loose and fertile soil with deep soil layer, rich organic matter content, good ventilation and drainage. Both sandy soil and clay soil can be used to grow ginger, but although sandy soil has good air permeability, it has poor water and fertilizer retention capacity, which may result in lower yields. Clay soil has strong water and fertilizer retention capacity and usually has higher yields.

Soil pH also affects the growth of ginger. The most suitable soil pH for ginger is 5.7-7.0. It grows well in both slightly acidic and neutral soils, and its rhizomes grow best at a pH of 6. Soil pH that is too high will inhibit the growth of ginger and result in reduced yield.

3. Geographical location

The ginger planting area should be selected in a place with slightly higher terrain and convenient drainage and irrigation to avoid the adverse effects of water accumulation on ginger growth. Ginger should not be planted continuously. It should be rotated with rice, cruciferous crops, leguminous crops, etc. for 3-4 years to maintain soil fertility and reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests.

To sum up, ginger is suitable for planting in warm and humid areas with appropriate light, fertile soil and good drainage. In my country, ginger can be planted in provinces from the central and eastern, southeast to southwestern China.