How to grow Ginger in Australia

Grow from a plump rhizome with visible buds, planted shallow in warm, humid, partly shaded ground with rich, moisture-holding soil. Keep it consistently damp but never waterlogged, and feed with a balanced liquid feed through active growth.

At a glance

Sun: Part shade
Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 3 days
Spacing: 25 cm
Time to harvest: 270 days
Time to germinate: 30 days
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Frost tolerance: Frost tender

When to sow by region

Region	When to sow	Regional note
South East Queensland	August to November
Northern Rivers NSW	August to November
Sydney & Coastal NSW	August to October	Pre-sprout indoors Aug to Sept; plant Oct in warm microclimate; dies down in winter.
Melbourne & Victoria	Not suited	Needs 9+ warm months; Melbourne winter kills rhizome. Unsuitable. Must lift and store indoors.
Adelaide & SA	September and October	Marginal. Plant rhizomes Sep to Oct in pots in a warm sheltered spot and move under cover before winter. Expect small harvests.
Perth & WA	August and September	Plant Aug to Sep. Ginger rots in cold wet soil, so it must be well established before winter.
Tasmania	Not suited	Unsuitable. Needs 9 warm months. The Tasmanian season is far too short.
Canberra & ACT	Not suited	Ginger unsuitable for Canberra: tropical rhizome; frost kills; needs consistent warmth and moisture. Not viable.
North Queensland	August to November	Dry season Aug to Nov. Ginger is tropical staple rhizome. Plant in dry season for wet-season growth.
Darwin & Top End	August to November	Dry season Aug to Nov. Ginger is tropical staple rhizome. Plant in dry season for wet-season growth.

Varieties

Queensland Yellow (Buderim strain)
Japanese Pink (Myoga)

Companion planting

Good companions

Turmeric

Harvest and storage

Harvest tip

Ready once the leaves yellow and die back, usually after the stems flop. Dig the whole clump, snap off what you need and replant a knob to keep it cropping.