Ginger planting method and best time

Ginger, a popular condiment, plays an important role in home kitchens and the restaurant industry. In order to meet market demand, many farmers have devoted themselves to ginger cultivation. However, the key to achieving high yield and good quality of ginger lies in carefully choosing the planting time and adopting the correct planting technology. Let’s learn about the ginger planting method and the best time.

1. Planting time

Ginger prefers a warm climate, and its tubers require higher temperatures for growth and germination. They can only begin to germinate in an environment above 16 to 18 degrees Celsius, and in the temperature range of 20 to 27 degrees Celsius, the growth rate of ginger tubers will be significantly accelerated. The most ideal rhizome division temperature is a monthly average of 24 to 29 degrees Celsius. When the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius, the growth of ginger will stagnate. If the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, the ginger pieces may rot. Therefore, the appropriate time to sow ginger needs to be determined based on local temperature changes, and the appropriate sowing period in different regions will naturally vary. Generally, ginger is sown relatively late. In warm areas such as Guizhou, the suitable sowing time is early to mid-March. In areas with a mild climate, it is recommended to sow after mid-April; in cool areas, it should be done in early May. If mulching technology is used, the sowing time can be appropriately advanced.

2. Select high-quality ginger

Choose healthy, pest-free, and mildew-free high-quality ginger pieces as seed ginger. The choice of variety should be based on the climate differences between the north and the south and local planting habits. Choose ginger pieces with full eyes and two strong buds. The size of seed ginger is usually as large as possible to increase yield, but in order to save costs, it is recommended that the size of seed ginger be controlled between 150 grams and 200 grams, and the seed ginger be classified by size. The wounds of ginger plants can be treated with fresh wood ash or lime powder.

Dry the selected ginger seeds in the sun, then soak them in 800 times diluted thiophanate-methyl aqueous solution or Bordeaux mixture for about 15 minutes for disinfection. After disinfection, place the ginger seeds on moist sand at about 25 degrees Celsius to keep them moist, cover them with plastic film to promote germination, and the ginger sprouts will usually sprout after 6 to 8 days.

3. Appropriate planting density

When planting ginger, trenches are usually dug with a row spacing of 40 cm, and fully decomposed organic fertilizer is applied in the trenches as base fertilizer. When planting ginger, make sure the buds are facing upwards and the spacing between plants is about 30 cm, then water and cover with 4 to 5 cm of soil to keep it moist. About 5,000 to 5,500 large ginger varieties are planted per acre, and about 7,000 small ginger varieties are planted per acre, with a plant spacing of about 16 to 18 centimeters. Depending on the size of the ginger seeds, approximately 350 to 500 kilograms of ginger seeds are required per acre of land.

4. Moisture management

About 10 days after sowing, ginger sprouts begin to emerge. In addition to checking seedlings and filling gaps in time, attention should also be paid to water management in the field. Ginger likes moisture but does not like waterlogging. Appropriate amount of water should be maintained during the seedling stage, and the soil moisture content should be controlled at around 80%. In summer, we must take precautions against heavy rains and carry out timely drainage to avoid long-term accumulation of water and the resulting diseases. In the summer when the sun is strong, you can build a shade net to reduce premature evaporation of water.

5. Reasonable fertilization

Ginger has a large demand for fertilizer. In addition to sufficient base fertilizer, it also requires three top dressings and foliar fertilizer spraying. When the ginger seedlings grow to about 25 cm, the first topdressing should be carried out. Organic fertilizer, beneficial microbial fertilizer or biogas slurry can be used. Apply biogas slurry again after about 3 to 4 weeks. The summer is hot and rainy, so it is not advisable to apply nitrogen fertilizer before and after heavy rain to prevent soil hypoxia and damage to the root system. After the beginning of autumn, as the growth of ginger rhizomes accelerates, about 35 kg of high-potassium compound fertilizer can be applied per mu, and the third topdressing should be carried out in mid-September.

The above is an introduction to the planting time and methods of ginger. In addition to the appropriate sowing time, variety selection and subsequent field management are also very important.