High Tunnel Production of Fresh Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale)

Reza Rafie and Chris Mullins

The funding to promote the production and marketing of Virginia grown ginger was provided by a grant from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)The official name Zingiber drived, using the Indian Sanskrit name for ginger - singabera, or shaped like a horn.

Other spices in the same family with ginger are Tumeric and

Cardamom.

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_ginger.htm

Ginger plantThe ginger plant has a long history of cultivation, having originated in Asia. Ginger is considered a tropical plant, has dark-green erect steams and lanced-shaped leaves that produces underground rhizomes. The plant may reach 2-4 ft in height.

General Information

The ginger is the most widely cultivated spice around the world. There are countless varieties, shapes and sizes, India has an estimated fifty varieties of this versatile herb. Depending on the conditions of the soil and the manner of its cultivations, each and every variety of the ginger possesses its own distinctive flavor and aroma. Africa is reputedly the home of the most pungent ginger, while the milder varieties are grown mainly in China.

The general agreements is that culinary applications will likely use milder ginger varieties, while the stronger and more pungent varieties are best to prepare ginger beverages and for use in therapeutic herbal remedies. http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_ginger.htm

Medicinal Use of Ginger

• Stimulate the circulatory system.

• Useful in controlling high blood pressure.

• Reducing fevers.

• Alleviate persistent coughs and all kinds of colds and flu.

• The ability of the ginger to alleviate nausea and vomiting is famous.

Why Ginger• Ginger rhizome is an aromatic, pungent spice which is used

for cooking and its health benefits, and well know than any other spice around the world.

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Total volume and value of imported fresh ginger to the U.S.2000-2009

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Acreages and farm value of ginger production in Hawaii, 1997-2008

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Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that commercially produces ginger, However, ginger wilt caused by a bacterium known as Ralstonia solanacerum has caused sever reduction not only in Hawaii but in all countries with commercial production.

Why Ginger

Old Friends Farm sells its ginger to several restaurants in the Amherst area. For those interested in trying it at home, it can be purchased from Old Friends Farm. For those lucky enough to get their hands on a piece of the small harvest, the ginger sells for $15.00 to $20.00 per pound. http://www.edibleboston.net/content/pages/articles/fall08/beansCreatingTopics.pdf

It is logical to believe that there is a considerable niche market opportunity for locally grown ginger, mostly targeted toward consumers shopping at local farmer markets and to those restaurants seeking only local products.

Growing Ginger in Virginia

It is not possible to grow ginger in Virginia under field conditions as it takes 9 -10 months from planting to the harvest. However, planting it early in FEBRURARY in a greenhouse and transplanting the plantlet at the end of APRIL in a high tunnel, would allow season expansion, and mature ginger can be harvested in January and February of the following year.

Growing Ginger

Ginger Seed Rhizomes

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/scm-8.pdf: Paul Hepperly and Francis Zee

Ginger Seed Rhizome

- Use only mature, clean, disease-free ginger hands- Cut the selected hands into 2-4 oz sections, sterilizing the knife after each cut - Each seed-piece should have two to four well developed “eyes.” - Surface-sterilize the seed-pieces in a 10% solution

of household bleach (1 part bleach in 9 parts water) for 10 minutes

- Cure the seed-pieces in a clean, disease-free area for three days or more before planting

(Hepperly, P. and Francis Zee, 2004)

In February, plant the seed piece in a one gallon pot ½-¾ filled with soilless potting mix (2 parts Compost, 2-4 parts Sphagnum Peat Moss, 1 part Perlite, and 1 part Vermiculite). Maintain in a greenhouse.

In April the potted plants are ready to be transplanted in the high tunnel.

April-May

October

May

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September

Fertilizer

• Ginger responds well with adequate fertilizer application.

• For detail of fertilizer need see

• http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/SCM-8.pdf

Mounding (Hilling)Is the periodic covering of the upward-expanding rhizomes. It is an important process in ginger production.

Baby Ginger

Mature Ginger

Baby Ginger

Virginia High Tunnel Grown Ginger

leaf-spot Phyllosticta zingiberi T .S. Ramakr

Rhizome Rot Fusarium oxysporum

Cutworm a major problem with high tunnel ginger production