Does Ginger Grow in the Shade?

Identification

• Native to tropical parts of Asia and cultivated in China and tropical areas like the Caribbean, ginger is one of the oldest known cultivated species and has been used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. An herbaceous perennial, it is winter hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 12. Ginger grows to a height of 2 or 3 feet, with narrow green leaves and tufted yellow-green, purple-tipped flowers. Its most distinguishing characteristic, however, is the plump, spicy, aromatic root.

Light Requirements

• Although ginger grows well enough in partial shade, it prefers complete shade, where there is no danger of sunlight affecting its leaves. In sunny locations, ginger does poorly and its leaves turning brown at the tips. If you want to grow ginger in the ground, place it where it will be shaded at all times during the growth season until it dies back in the fall. When growing ginger in a pot, ensure it stays consistently in the shade by moving the pot as necessary.

Culture

• Ginger appreciates heat, humidity and fertile, well-draining, slightly moist soil. Do not allow the soil to stay consistently wet so that the roots or rhizomes rot, defeating the purpose of planting ginger. Like potatoes, ginger is grown from pieces of rhizome. Cut the ginger root into 1- to 1½-inch pieces, ensuring that each piece contains an “eye,” or a small, puckered indentation in the flesh, as you would with a potato. When growing ginger in a pot, bring it indoors if temperatures threaten to drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Uses

• Because ginger is not a terribly showy plant and its seasonal white blooms are rarely spectacular, most gardeners grow ginger for its edible properties. Used fresh, it can liven up soups, stews, curries and meat dishes. Dried, you can grind it and use it for making both sweet and savory dishes. If you choose to grow ginger every year, you may use part of your harvest to start new ginger plants. And if you are careful in digging around just the outer edges of the plant, you may even harvest ginger roots while the plant is still growing.