Soil Requirements for Ginger Plantation

Soil pH/Preparation

• Ginger such as red ginger needs a soil pH level that is about 6 to 6.8, which means the soil is acidic. Any level under the neutral level of 7 is a sign of acidity. You can find out the pH of the soil in which you are growing ginger plants by collecting a sample of the soil and having your local extension office test it. In addition, before planting ginger plants, till the soil to a depth of 15 centimeters and make sure all grasses that could compete with the ginger plants are removed.

Amendments

• A complete fertilizer will provide your ginger plants with the nutrients they need to thrive, including potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. The more nitrogen you apply to these plants, the more flowers usually bloom. The ideal fertilizer is a 1:1:1 or 3:1:5 nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium product. In addition, your ginger plants' fertilizer should contain other nutrients such as boron, zinc, copper, iron and manganese.

Soil Type/Watering

• Ginger usually grows well in fertile soils. Poorly drained clay soils will keep ginger plant roots waterlogged, which simply stunts the plants' growth. However, the soil used to grow ginger still must remain moist. An inch of water a week is sufficient for keeping ginger plants alive. If your area is experiencing a drought, you should give these plants a little more than an inch of water using irrigation methods.

Other Soil Information

• When managing a ginger plantation, make sure the ginger's soils are well-drained. If the soil is not drained well and retains too much moisture, this can lead to chlorosis. Chlorosis basically is a yellowing or whitening of plant leaves and usually takes place if too much of the nutrient manganese is in the soil or if the soil pH level is too high. Soil requirements also typically include a soil temperature of about 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 72 degrees Fahrenheit along with air temperatures that linger around 68 degrees Fahrenheit.