Some of you may recall my rooting ginger rhizome post of 1/14/13. I promised to keep you updated with the progress. Actually Charlie of Hotly Spiced inquired about the progress a few weeks ago but I had nothing to report then.
The ginger with the thicker (fatter) rhizome broke through the surface of the potting mix on 2/5/13. Still waiting for the thinner rhizome to show some form of life.
This is what the thicker (fatter) rhizomes looked like on 2/10/13
5 of the 6 rhizomes sent out green shoots
This is what they looked like on 2/17/13 (a week later)
Growing and looking good.
Still waiting for the thinner (smaller) rhizome to show some sign of life, hopefully soon.
Isn’t it interesting, both varieties started on the same date, grown under the same condition yet one is so far ahead of the other? Sure wish I knew the name of the 2 varieties I am growing.
Really need to organize and get with my seed starting activities this week. But first I need to shovel a path to get into the shed to collect my seed starting cell packs and potting mix, then I need to wash and sterilize the cell packs and pots since I did not get around to doing so last fall.
I am so looking forward to spring. Grounds are still snow covered and frozen. Expecting rain tomorrow and should be a bit warmer. Hopefully much of the snow will melt/wash away and before long the grounds willl thaw and I can start digging in the garden and start planting. A cheerful thought.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Copyright © by Norma Chang. All Rights Reserved. Do not use/repost any photos and/or articles without permission.
Visit Daphne’s Dandelions http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/ for more Harvest Mondays
Garden to Wok 
Oh yes, Norma, I remember these….they look pretty good now.
Going to get some earth for seeding next week too.
Hello Angie,
What are you planting?
Washing & sterilizing pots – that is the part I hate. After 30 years of cleaning & bleaching inside each Feb. I’ve finally forced myself to do it outside in the fall. It’s still not fun, but at least I’m not breathing the fumes.
Hello Mary,
I try to do the washing and sterilizing of the used pots in the fall, but only manage to get a few done.
It is so bitter cold it is hard to believe Spring is just weeks away. Lovely to see tiny green shoots coming up isn’t it? Happy Gardening Norma
Hello Kim,
I have a feeling spring will be late in coming this year. Yes, those tiny green shoots made me very happy.
The emerged sprouts look quite happy. I am hoping my ginger in containers in the greenhouse will spring to life sooner this year and give me an actual harvest at the end of the coming season.
Hello Laura,
I was thinking about your container ginger when I was writing my post. I am looking forward to learning when it decide to spring to life. Do keep us updated.
I’m a lazy gardener, I wait until the ginger roots sprout in a bag before planting, I’m going to experiment with your method this time, do you keep the soil moist or on the dry side?
Hello Mac,
You can afford to wait as you have a longer and more favorable growing condition that I do. I keep the soil on the moist side.
It seems winter is over here and Spring has sprung. We didn’t have much of a “winter” but i am not complaining!
Hello Alyssa,
Aren’t you lucky. We are still in the grips of winter.
These do look good my friend, keep up your experiment 😀
Cheers
CCU
Hello Uru,
They brighten up the winter days.
I keep debating ginger. I did last year too, but still haven’t started any. I would so love it, but am skeptical on the effort versus the rewards. I suppose it can’t be worse than growing mustard seed.
Hello Daphne,
I think you should go for it. Everything grows so well for you, your ginger will greatly reward you. Not sure if it is the variety I get from the health food (I pay $6.99/pound) but the ginger flavor is so much stronger than that at the grocery store. I find I can use less and get the same results.
I’m fascinated, Norma, and cannot wait to see how your experiment develops. And I think we’re all in agreement: Spring cannot get here quick enough!
Hello John,
I too am anxious to see the results, unfortunately one cannot rush a plant (it is going to grow at its own pace) so I just have to sit tight and wait patiently.
Shoveling a path to get to your seeds does not sound like fun. Sending some spring thoughts your way. (Norma I am having some issues leaving comments and for some reason they are going to everyones spam box but have no fear I am reading and commenting so check your spam box ) Take care, BAM
Hello Bam,
Thanks, I need the spring thoughts badly. This comment came through the proper channel. Will let you know if there is issue.
Thanks Norma! I am still following along. Today I went to Sai Kung, Hong Kong and had a fabulous fresh seafood dinner with fried garlic and chili prawns. (This dish was amazing!) Oh yes we need to re-create that in our kitchens. Do you know how to make it? I think I am going to give it try just from what I tasted today I think it will be simple to recreate or do you have a recipe for this on your website. Take care, BAM
Hello Bam,
Not knowing what the dish look like and not tasting it I cannot say if I can or cannot make it. If it is just garlic and chili, I would bloom the minced garlic and chili for a few seconds in smoking oil, immediately add the super fresh shrimp and stir fry until cooked, oh I would toss the shrimp with a bit of salt and let sit for 30 minutes before cooking. Let me know what you did.
How long does it normally take for them to grow? 🙂
Hello Daisy,
At least 100 days.
Thanks for the mention, Norma! I’ve been so interested in your ginger because I know it’s traditionally grown in a sub-tropical climate so how you’re able to do such a good job during your harsh winter, astounds me. Amazing how different varieties grow at different rates. xx
Hello Charlie,
You are welcome. Sure wish I knew what varieties I am growing, but I purchased the original rhizome from the healthfood store and no one has any idea of the varieties.
Wow you must have that ginger somewhere really warm for it to be shooting at this time of year. I kept mine inside all winter last year but it still took until summer for it to shoot.
Hello Liz,
The room temp it is in is about 68F. I think it is the variety as the other variety is showing no sign of life yet.
They look pretty good now! Well done! i hope the rest of them will follow!
Hello Sophie,
Thanks, I hope so too.
I don’t wash or sterilize anything. So far I’ve never had a problem that I felt was related to not doing this. But then around here I”m a lot like, well you gotta be tough to survive, cuz I’m not going to baby you!
Hello Mary,
I have such a short growing season, I cannot afford to take any chances.
I haven’t been able to step out on the garage roof for quite some time, with all the snow we’ve gotten, so I am not sure how my garlic is doing. I’m excited to hear about your ginger (I thought I had posted a comment about it, but can’t see it! Go figure, technology!). It’s bitter cold in TO today but at least the sun is out, sometimes. It’s better than nothing, I get so down when it’s grey and dreary. I can hardly wait for spring as well.
Hello Eva,
My grounds are still snow covered and the forecast is: winter storm “Q” will be visiting this weekend (missed the one last weekend, it stayed East) hope it misses. I too posted comments that mysteriously disappear and thought it was me, but when others had the same issues I knew it was not me. Wonder if it has anything to do with WordPress?
Still waiting for my other tray of ginger rhizome to show some sign of life. May be it will break through the surface of the soil if I stop checking so frequently.
How exciting! I use so much ginger that I am really interested in your experiment and look forward to your updates.
Nazneen
Hello Nazneen,
May be you could start rooting some ginger rhizome also and we can compare notes.
Nice Norma…I will try to plant ginger again, and this time will keep them away from the squirrels which keep digging into my pot 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Hello Juliana,
You will be happy you gave it another try. Do keep me updated
Hi Norma, I don’t have garden this yes, so I enjoy looking at your’s very much. Your gardening posts have such useful information! Forgot to tell you: last year, when we lived in townhouse and I had a little garden, I planted lemon grass following your advice. It grew well and I had my own lemon grass for a few soups. Thank you! 🙂
Hello Marina,
You can grow lemongrass in a container, give it a try.
Our growing season is so short, I’m not sure I’d get any ginger before it snowed again! I wonder about the differences in ginger, the thicker one must be a hardier variety? xx
Hello Barbara,
Given our short growing season, I never thought I would be successful either but last year decided to experiment and did get a small harvest. Decided to repeat the experiment again this year on a “larger scale” and started rooting 2 different variety of rhizomes indoor earlier. Hoping for a good harvest, will see.
i had some red ginger on my garden…
it’s huge and that’s my grandmas’s project
never even thought to harvest ir once, She’ll kill me literary… heheheh
Hello Dedy,
I thought red ginger is an ornamental ginger not the same as the ginger we use in cooking. Must do some research and learn more.
No, it’s edible ginger..
but it stringer and hotter in taste, si intens and tes pricyer then regular ginger
the skin is reddish brown….
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.bisnisukm.com/2011/11/jahe-merah.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bisnisukm.com/jahe-merah-minuman-sehat-beromset-cerah.html&h=219&w=320&sz=19&tbnid=YoNRf0HPVQcmNM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=132&prev=/search%3Fq%3Djahe%2Bmerah%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=jahe+merah&usg=__JgGlsUCSwbqcz49i-zXUsPyXmk8=&docid=lPy_Gy5hVJpQHM&sa=X&ei=nTYpUc_3Ns3JrAeGx4GgDw&ved=0CDAQ9QEwAQ&dur=2196
Hello Dedy,
Thanks, it is a pretty rhizome. Visited the site but unfortunately I could not read it.
I’m counting the days down for Spring…can’t wait to see what all the season will bring you, Norma….loooove ginger!
Hello Squishy,
You have no idea how anxious I am for the arrival of spring especially on a day like today. It is gray, cold, gloomy and we may get another 2-4 inches of snow on top of what is still on the ground.
I hope all will sprouts for you.
Hello Diana,
I hope so too.