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Herb

Ginger

Zingiber officinale · also Culinary ginger

A tropical plant grown for its spicy rhizomes. In Adelaide treat it as a warm-season pot plant: plant in mid to late spring, keep it warm and moist through summer, then harvest when the leaves die back in late autumn or winter. Move pots to shelter over winter.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (1)

  • Common culinary gingerNurseries and garden centres sell it simply as ginger rhizomes in spring

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    20 cm apart, seed 50 mm deep. Full sun or part shade.

  2. Water

    Moist, never soggy; more once shoots appear.

  3. Feed

    Compost-rich mix plus liquid feed.

  4. Pick, from about 34 weeks

    Dig rhizomes when leaves die back.

Good to know

  • Plant a plump piece with at least one bud from a nursery; supermarket ginger can carry disease
  • Use a wide pot with good potting mix and plenty of compost
  • Pick young pink 'green ginger' from the edge from late summer
  • Keep a firm piece of rhizome to replant next spring

Common problems

  • Rhizome rots before sproutingplant in warm soil and don't over-water until shoots appear
  • Leaf scorch in hot afternoon sun or windgive a warm spot with some afternoon shade
  • Cold damagemove pots under cover in winter and keep them fairly dry

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about gingerAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing gingerQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Safety: Everyday supermarket food. Not on the ASPCA toxic plant list; large amounts may upset a pet's stomach.

Where this information comes from
  • ABC News: It takes patience, but you can grow your own ginger at home (climate, low confidence)
  • ABC Gardening Australia: Top Tip, Growing Ginger in Pots (growing, medium confidence, checked 29 Oct 2026)
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control: toxic and non-toxic plants (no entry for Zingiber officinale) (toxicity, low confidence)

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.