Do you like the taste of ginger? Intense and fresh with a light tart note? Mmm… fantastic! It turns out that you can not only buy ginger in the store, but also grow it yourself. And it's pretty simple.
The history of ginger as a spice and medicine is rooted in the distant past. And, if you make a desperate attempt to look into it, then there is a chance you will never get to the landing. After all, this story is so fascinating and varied. If you still set out to plant ginger, and not study, then go for it! This process is no less interesting and quite simple.
Preparatory work
Where to begin? First of all, it is worth deciding on the planting material. After all, it's not a secret for anyone that the ginger that flaunts in stores is not a plant itself. These are just his rhizomes. But it is they who are intended for subsequent landing. If you have a summer cottage, and the climate in which you live is humid, then you can safely plant ginger in open ground.
At home, ginger feels great. The best time to plant the fruit is the end of winter or the beginning of spring, when there is more light and sun. You can buy it at any store or market.
When choosing a root, you should pay attention to some nuances that are important for further planting: inspect the root itself - it should feel smooth and rather dense to the touch, without roughness and peeling husks. Several live buds must be present on it.
The classic version of planting ginger
Before planting the selected good root in the ground, carry out the preparatory procedure: soak it in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and soak for two to three hours, then rinse and proceed to the next step. Then the spine must be held in a plastic bag until the first eyes appear. The same trick works here as when sprouting potatoes. When the eyes grow up, you can start dividing.
Take a spine and easily and boldly divide it into two equal halves. It is important to do this so that at least one living kidney remains on each specimen. So that the wounds heal as soon as possible and the ginger does not have to suffer for a long time, sprinkle the cut with charcoal.
Now it's time to plant the roots in the pots. First, put a drain on the bottom. It can be pebbles or sand - choose what you like best. Pour the previously prepared fertile soil on top and put the roots in it. Lay them so that the hatching bud is on top, and then cover it with a layer of earth about two centimeters.
If you are a virtuoso gardener and you have free time, then you can prepare the soil yourself. Mix turf, humus and sand in a 1: 1 ratio and use as directed. For such care, the plant will only thank you.
At this stage, all that remains is to regularly water the plants. Ginger hates drought. He is used to living in a humid climate, so always monitor the condition of the soil, do not let it dry out.
Take care of the shoots gently and reverently, and the result will not be long in coming. Very quickly, after one or two months, the first sprouts will appear.
On hot, sultry summer days, ginger can be taken to the balcony or taken out into the street in the country. Just keep away from direct sunlight. Still, a tropical handsome man does not like the scorching sun. Remember to drop in soil from time to time.
Shoots can stretch up to a meter in height.
With the arrival of autumn, when the sprouts have already wilted, the rhizomes need to be dug up, cleaned and stored in a dry place until next season. Naturally, in six months, they will grow and there will be much more of them. You can safely use some of the roots for your needs: chop them into salads, infuse teas, use them as medicine. And let the other part lie and wait for its finest hour.
This process can be repeated from year to year, multiplying the experience and quantity of such an incredibly useful plant.
Root storage conditions
If the rhizome is fresh, you can simply put it in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf. There it will lie quietly for a month. Dried and minced ginger has a much longer shelf life - it can last up to four months.
About the beneficial properties of the fruit
Ginger is not only a food product, but also an excellent folk remedy for many ailments. The Chinese call it "the root of life" and do not care for it. Fresh, pickled, salty - oriental people adore it in any form. No wonder not a single sushi can do without it. And how wonderful ginger is in cold weather.
Brewing it together with honey, lemon and cinnamon, you will save yourself from mild seasonal colds. Ginger has a pronounced immunomodulatory property, which is especially important for residents of large cities.
Due to its rich mineral and vitamin composition, it is able to have a positive effect on the digestive system. At the same time, there are very few calories in it. Nutritionists recommend regularly using this product for people who persistently decide to lose weight.
Earlier, in the Middle Ages, when ginger was just brought to our area, it was even used in the fight against the plague. In those days, the "hunters" for the fruit were ready to give fabulous money for it.
The benefits and value of ginger can hardly be overestimated. This original fruit is just a vitamin bomb that warms in winter, invigorates in summer and supports in the off-season. And if you are still thinking - to experiment or not, then make up your mind soon! Delicious salads, fragrant tea and good health!
