He althy ginger is best known for its healing properties. Here you will learn everything about planting, caring for and harvesting the sharp rhizome.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is an ancient medicine and also known as a spice for thousands of years. In addition to its countless medical uses, the people of ancient Asia already knew about its circulation-enhancing effect. Ginger was considered a popular aphrodisiac and was highly valued for boosting love.
Ginger is probably one of the most diverse plants in the world. The numerous medical effects almost make you believe in a miracle cure and the plant also scores with its he althy ingredients. But not only that, because ginger is also a real all-rounder in the kitchen.
Ginger: origin and properties
The great secret of the plant lies underground: the pungent, aromatic rhizome that we commonly know as ginger. Only this part of the plant is harvested. Food was seasoned with ginger as early as the Old Testament, and the plant has also been very popular in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Ginger once grew in the ancient rainforests of tropical islands. Today it is planted worldwide in the tropics and subtropics. The perennial plant looks almost a bit like grass or reeds with its fronds up to one and a half meters high. The parallel-veined leaves are arranged left and right on large, fleshy stalks that sprout directly from the rhizome. The yellowish-purple flowers appear once a year and grow directly out of the ground on their own stalk.
Buying ginger plants: you should pay attention to this
When buying a ginger plant, don't be fooled by its German name. If you want to buy real ginger, you shouldZingiber officinale Keep an eye out. Numerous members of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) are traded under the synonym "ginger". Behind the red ginger, for example, hides the species Alpinia purpurata with its beautiful decorative flowers. Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior), although related to ginger, is more of a cut flower than a well-known kitchen spice.
If you want to grow ginger yourself, you should make sure you choose the right root. In principle, the replica works with all roots, but there are some differences. In order to be sure that the ginger rhizome has not been treated with a growth-inhibiting substance, it is advisable to buy an organically grown ginger root. In the best case, this is nice and smooth and fresh.
Planting Ginger
You can bring the tropical plant into your home as an edible houseplant and grow fresh ginger yourself. All you need is a large flowerpot, high-quality soil such as our Plantura organic universal soil and a piece of ginger about four centimeters long. Place the ginger about two inches deep in the soil and then cover it again. Now it's time to keep the soil moist and warm. After a few weeks, with a bit of luck, the first shoot will appear. Now it's time to put the plant in as sunny a spot as possible so it will produce large, fresh rhizomes that you can harvest in the fall.
You can find detailed instructions on “planting ginger” here.
Ginger care
The most important thing for the ginger plant is actually a lot of sun from the first moment. So give the plant the sunniest spot you can find. Ginger also likes to be outside in summer, as long as the temperature never falls below 12 °C.
Water ginger
Keep the ginger moist at all times. Nevertheless, the pot should have a drainage hole to prevent waterlogging, as this quickly leads to rotting of the rhizome and roots. You should only use low-lime water for watering. If your tap water has a high lime content, then collected rainwater offers a good alternative. As soon as the above-ground shoots begin to die off in autumn, you should slowly stop watering and leave them alone over the winter. Watering is only announced again in spring from February.
Cut Ginger
Ginger doesn't need to be cutwill. The plant only develops annual shoots anyway, which turn yellow and die off in autumn. You can only remove them when they have completely dried up - or during harvest.
Fertilize ginger
It is best to mix a portion of slow-release fertilizer under the soil in spring. In this way, the ginger is optimally supplied with nutrients until autumn. A second dose in early summer strengthens the plant even more. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer with organic long-term effect is ideally suited for this. Alternatively, a dose of compost can also be used.
Ginger propagation
Ginger is extremely easy to propagate. If you have harvested the root in autumn, you can cut the part that you do not want to use directly in the kitchen into pieces about four centimeters long. You should divide these into several pots and overwinter them in a dry place at around 10 °C. In the spring, with the right care, a new ginger plant will grow from each of the individual pieces.
Harvest Ginger
You can harvest your home-grown ginger in autumn from October. The plant will clearly show you the right time by starting to pull back its leaves. They turn yellow and gradually dry up. Shortly before this comes your mission. Simply dig up the rhizome from the ground. If you also want to harvest ginger next year, you should leave part of the rhizome in the ground. You can now remove and process the rest.
You can find all details about harvesting ginger here.
Preserving and storing ginger
To preserve ginger, you have a variety of options, depending on your preference. Whether dried and grated as a ginger spice or tea, candied with sugar or marinated in syrup or vinegar - it's entirely up to you. Freezing yourself is a possibility.
You can find out how to properly preserve ginger here.
Ginger: ingredients and uses
Ginger has so many beneficial ingredients that it's easy to get lost. Gingerole deserves special attention. Together with the shoagoles, they ensure that the ginger is hot and are responsible for countless medicinal uses of the plant. For millennia, the medical effectiveness has been known to humanswell-known and already in the Middle Ages ginger was cultivated for this purpose in Europe. But ginger is also very popular as a spice or even food. In England in particular, dishes such as ginger jam or candied ginger are known as a special treat.
Tip: The numerous minerals such as iron, magnesium and calcium, which the root of the ginger combines, are also welcome. Even vitamin C is not neglected.
Healing effect of ginger against coughs, diarrhea and Co.
Ginger is one of the most important spices for traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Even in the Middle Ages, ginger was used successfully against numerous ailments. With its countless effects, it is a true miracle cure.
How is ginger used as a medicinal plant?
- Cold: Ginger contains anti-inflammatory substances. One of the best-known and simplest applications is therefore the tried and tested ginger tea with honey for coughs, sore throats and colds.
- Stomach and intestines: Ginger has a very positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Stomach complaints and nausea are alleviated, digestion is promoted. Ginger can also help against motion sickness.
- Stimulation of the circulation: With its effect on the blood circulation, ginger has a stimulating effect on the circulation. Due to the blood circulation-promoting effect of ginger, it is also considered an aphrodisiac.
- Pain Relief: The ingredient gingerol is similar to acetylsalicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin. A good piece of freshly grated ginger in a fruit juice is therefore also effective against headaches. If you are not a fan of fresh ginger, you can of course also prepare a ginger tea.
- Anti-carcinogenic effect: Ginger has an antioxidant effect and can bind free radicals. It has been proven that it can prevent cancer or be used alongside cancer therapy.
Note: However, caution is advised for pregnant women. While ginger has a positive effect against nausea in early pregnancy, too much later can trigger contractions.