Last spring, I planted some ginger roots I'd gotten from the grocery store.
I have no idea what the 'proper' name is.
My question is, can I expect any sort of bloom on it?
It's growing nicely, about 2 to 3 ft tall.
The roots (corms? whatever they are called) have multiplied.
It seems to be doing really well.
But I have no idea as to what to expect from it as a plant.
If it does bloom, what color is it apt to be,
And what are the blossoms apt to look like?
Thanks. . . . .
"Grocery Store" Ginger
You are likely referring to Zingiber officinale, Edible Ginger.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55488/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger
http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Zingiber-officinale.htm
Grocery store ginger is Zingiber officinale. Here it is on plant files:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55488/#b
Blooms:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=719479
Good luck! :)
Aaaah sorry! Foiled again by slow internet! Lol
Hi.
I did just that: bought ginger at the fruit & veggie stand down the street. I planted it just under the soil, in a large pot where large philodendrons grew, in full shade. Those plants like lots of water and fertilizer. They sprouted and grew about 5 or 6 feet with a large white bloom. We harvested the rhizomes. They were awesome. We made candied ginger out of most of them. I have tried to find a picture of the blooms, to no avail. I should plant more, since it was a positive experience here.
Sylvain.
Thank you for the replies!
So far, no hint of any blooms on mine. I'm hoping it will bloom now, those pictures are fascinating!
I planted it in one of those big black 'nursery' pots (the kind young trees often come in, about 17 or 18" across), in Miracle Grow potting soil. It seems like it is not going to get any taller, it's stayed the same now for a couple of months. Some of the leaves are getting brown tips, maybe time for it to go dormant? Or maybe it gets too much sun. It gets a few hours of hot, direct over head sun in the middle of the day. As soon as I realized it's location was a mistake, I draped a sheer curtain panel over it to kind of protect it from the sun. Unfortunately, that often blows off. The next time one of the grandsons are here, I will get him to move the pot to a shadier location.
And I don't think I will harvest any this year, even though that was my original intention. Think I will just let it grow, maybe bloom, & continue to multiply for another year or so. Hopefully by Christmas 2014 I will have enough fresh, home-grown ginger to make some really fantastic candied ginger for gifts!
What would be the best kind of fertilizer for it?
Again, thank you for the replies!
I use MiracleGro for everything I grow. Fertilize weakly, fertilize weekly. If they tell you to add 1 tablespoon to a gallon of water once a month, I do 1/2 teaspoon in a gallon of water once a week. That way, the plant gets a continuous inflow of fertilizer on a regular basis. Only exception: orchid bloom booster for these pig-headed orchids that won't bloom otherwise. Works for me.
Sylvain.
Thanks, Sylvain.
I usually use Osmocote on most of the outdoor plants. MiracleGro on indoor potted plants.
At this point, I'm not sure if I want to try to promote corm growth, or try to encourage it to bloom. Both would be nice! :>)