Many farmers that I have interacted with complain that growing ginger is hard.

However, if managed correctly, ginger can be a good source of cash flow to the farm business. Ginger can practically be grown anywhere.

All it requires are patience, a little finesse, diligence, and a close eye on weather changes in your location. There are a few tips and tricks that will be useful to newbie farmers.

Ginger can only withstand temperatures of around 13 degrees centigrade or higher. Lower temperatures would damage ginger by triggering dormancy and may kill the plant completely.

Grow your ginger in regions with 13 degrees centigrade or higher for optimum growth. Ginger can be intercropped with macadamia trees because the crops require to thrive in similar climatic conditions.

Additionally, macadamia trees take more than five years before going into production.

The seed



Ginger is planted from the harvested ginger roots. It is therefore recommended that the farmer selects the best for this purpose.

The challenge, therefore, is cultivating roots that are free from pathogens. Infected seeds when planted can contaminate the entire plantation.

Follow strict sanitation practices like keeping the seed store clean and cleaning all the implements previously used in one area before moving to the next.

Contaminated water can also be a source of pathogens. Pay close attention to water used for irrigation.

Soils



Ensure the soil is healthy and contains sufficient nutrients to feed the ginger. This is because healthy plants can fight disease and pest attacks.

This is achieved by the application of balanced fertilisers. Carry out a soil analysis to determine the nutrients required to support the crop.

Add lime and manure, as ginger has a high requirement for the same. Lime and manure add organic matter to the soil. Ginger requires soil with a high humus content as this contains the right nutrients.

The darker the soil, the better. Sandy soils, for example, are not suitable as they leach more rapidly and tend to aggravate the nematode problem that often arises with ginger.

To protect the roots from rot, ensure the water can drain off. Clay will choke your plant, and ruin all your hard work.

Planting

Loosen the soil before planting for proper growth. Compact soil would hinder the growth of ginger.

Prepare furrows in the soil and add compost or manure. Then place the ginger pieces on top of the compost about a hand’s length apart and cover them with soil.

The soil also needs to hold enough moisture so that it doesn’t dry out, but it should be free draining so the ginger roots don’t become waterlogged.

As the plants grow, heap soil around it to create a soft ridge into which the ginger grows. This ensures that the soil temperature around the ginger stays high enough to encourage growth. Start weeding early to avoid competition for nutrients.

A lot of moisture

Ginger needs a lot of moisture while actively growing. The soil should never dry out.

Don’t overwater, though, because the water that drains away will take nutrients with it. Ginger loves humidity. If you have problems with dry air, then regular spraying and misting might help.

If you are growing ginger in the ground, mulch it thickly. It helps to keep the ground moist, it helps feed the ginger as the mulch breaks down, and it also keeps down weeds.

Pest control

Look out for nematodes, armyworm, and phytophthora - the main pest threats. Anything that causes a lesion in the plant is a problem because this creates an entry point for harmful bacteria.

Ensure proper crop management to wade off the pests. Harvest ginger as soon as the leaves die down.

Usually, it takes eight to ten months to get to that point. Harvesting is done manually with pitchforks, and every effort is made to lift the ginger out of the soil without breaking it.