The Best Time to Plant Ginger in Georgia

True Ginger

• The only place to grow true ginger in Georgia is in a strip in USDA zone 9a that runs along the southeast Georgia coast. Each rhizome section should be 1 to 1.5 inches long, with at least one good bud or "eye." Cut the rhizome sections a day or two before planting and allow them to dry to prevent rot. Early spring planting allows the rhizomes time to sprout new roots and top growth before the heat of late spring and early summer sets in.

Growing On

• The rhizomes should be planted just below the soil surface, with plenty of growing room, as the plant will eventually spread 2 to 4 feet. Once true ginger is started in coastal Georgia, water sparingly until you see top growth developing and then increase water amounts. Feed with an all-purpose, 24-8-16 fertilizer every seven to 14 days, using 1/2 teaspoon of water-soluble plant food per gallon of water. Gingers thrive in part shade. The 4-foot tall mature plant will have a well-developed root, all or part of which can be harvested for immediate culinary use or dried and ground for later use.

Ornamental Gingers

• Part of the larger ginger family, ornamental gingers are sometimes also referred to as "ginger lilies." Shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet), hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10, is hardy in the southern two-thirds of Georgia. As with true ginger, shell ginger grows from a rhizome that should be planted in early spring when temperatures are moderate. It is also forms a large plant, 4 to 7 feet tall, with a 4-foot spread, so sufficient space should be provided. Even when spring-planted, the plants will not flower until the second year, since they bloom on old wood.

Landscape Uses

• In parts of Georgia where true or ornamental gingers are not hardy, they can be grown in containers as houseplants. Under indoor conditions, the gingers require bright light and humid conditions. When temperatures are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, both types can be grouped on patios or terraces, where they make excellent foliage plants. Potted specimens can also spend summers as foliage accents in the garden. When grown as a containerized subject, ornamental ginger may not flower. Gardeners can add to its ornamental effect by growing the variegated variety (Alipinia zarumbet "Variegata"), hardy in USDA zones 8 through 11.