Hi Ginger Lovers,
This forum has been so quiet lately, I thought I might stimulate some discussion. I am often asked what got me started into gingers. Here are my top four reasons for liking gingers. What do you like (or dislike) about gingers?
1. So much diversity! There are so many different types, different colors, some for sun, some for shade, tall ones, short ones, fragrant ones, etc. - some 1500 species and cultivars altogether.
2. Easy to grow! Most of them are very easy to grow in the right climate (warm humid summers) and are not prone to pest problems. (I don't have to use chemicals.)
3. Beneficial in many ways! Besides being great ornamental plants, several of them are used as spices and there is a lot of current research indicating medicinal value of many of them. Curcuma longa (turmeric) is an anti-inflamatory, Zingiber officinale good for nausea, and several are believed to be anti-carcinogens.
4. Winter dormancy. I actually llke the fact that most of them are winter dormant here. It gives me a good time to rework my beds, divide and move things around without hurting the plants.
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
This message was edited Mar 1, 2007 3:07 PM
This message was edited Mar 1, 2007 3:07 PM
Why I Like Gingers
SO much to learn!
And some are actually hardy to my zone!
Dave, have you thought about posting an article on growing gingers here: http://davesgarden.com/articles/ Articles that get submitted get posted on Gardens.com too. If I'm not mistaken, you've written some articles before so you might be able to just cut and paste them. If anyone is qualified to write an article about growing gingers, it's you:-)
I like gingers for their beauty, their fragrance, and their ease of growing.
I like that you can use them as cut flowers in a vase too:-)
This is only my second season with gingers, but - so far - I love them because they look tropical but seem to come back reliably in my zone. And they grow nicely in my shady dell.
I initially got a C. Zedoaria ("bicolor wonder")because I loved - loved - the foliage. They I saw Clare's photos of her masses of gingers, and thus began the early stages of addiction. :)
Deb
Glad I could help, Deb;-D
The Tallahassee Democrat published an article on my ginger collection in the Thursday garden section this week. I was so excited and proud... just had to post something about it here. The on-line version can be found at
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703220326
There are a few errors (as usual in newspaper articles) but overall it is a great article.
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
This message was edited Mar 24, 2007 7:53 AM
I just read the article, Dave. Congratulations! It's a great tribute to you and your work. You should feel very proud of it. It says in the article that you grow blue gingers in your yard, and I wonder whether you've had trouble with mealie bugs on them in the leaf junction with the stem. I cut mine to the ground last year because they were covered in mealies, and I didn't want to have to fight with them, but they are growing back this year so I'm keeping an eye out for them.
Way to go Dave! Well done. :)
Terrific article, congratulations.
Dave, when do your blue gingers start blooming? Mine never start until late fall and I am wondering what I should be doing to get earlier blooms? Does yours die down during the winter, mine does not and the stalks are real ratty looking this time of year.
Alice, mine doesn't bloom until mid-October or so also. I cut mine to the ground last year because of mealies:-(
Oh My! Clare
That's beautiful. Is it really that color? : ) Is it sun or shade?
Sorry for all the questions.
~Lucy
Clare, sorry for the delayed reply, I somehow missed your question about blue ginger until now. No, I have not had any problems with mealie bugs (or any other pests for that matter). I do not use chemicals, just some insecticidal soap in the greenhouse mainly for aphids.
Since it is not a true ginger, I don't have a data sheet on it on my website - which is now limited to Zingiberaceae and Costaceae - only in my online catalog. I have three large patches in my garden, which tells you how much I think of them since I am almost exclusively into true gingers. My blue gingers start blooming in September and are in full bloom by October. They always freeze back when we have freezing temps and the foliage is damaged in a light frost, but they come back strong in the early spring - like right now they are sending up new shoots. If you ever dig up a mature plant you will find huge root tubers deep and at the end of the roots, which is what allows them to survive dry periods and dormancy in frost areas.
Also, thanks to all for the kind comments about the newspaper article. I am going to Ecuador in May to look for two Costus species that are on the threatened list (very rare) and who knows what else I may find there. Wish me luck.
Dave Skinner
www.gingersrus.com
Thanks, Lucy;-) My pictures always seem to show more blue, I think, than the actual color. I think the actual color is more purple, but I can't really remember right now, and it is not in bloom right now for me to go look. It is a gorgeous color though. I think mine gets part shade with some morning sun.
Hi Dave, thanks for the inflo. about the Blue Ginger. Good luck in Ecuador and have a safe journey. Please tell us what you found when you get back.
Well, I guess I'm just gonna have to buy me one. : ) I like it alot.
~Lucy