While looking @ this pic, I wonder if these are being sold to grow, or to use the root in food?


How long, generally, would it take the little ones in the above pic to grow into a substantial rhizome like this?


Is there a difference in flavor between the small white roots in the 1st pic and the older brown one in the 2nd pic?

I bought a root about 2x as big as the one shown above in OldGArdener's pic, snapped it into a few pieces, and buried them 3-4" under the soil. But then I saw this pic of roots on the surface, like one would do with an Iris or Rex Begonia:


My roots are growing stems & leaves, so did I just end up waiting longer than necessary, or should they be re-planted?

Also confused about the bloom pics. Does this:


Turn into this?


TY for looking. TIA for any responses!

I'm trying to root mine but I had no luck. Maybe next year I will see something.

I'm not knowledgeable but with limited experience. Perhaps the small ginger tubers are sold with foliage as the foliage can also be used in dishes. It is aromatic as well.

I have planted store bought ginger which has never bloomed for me. I understand if it does, they are small, insignificant blooms.

I think these photos represent different types of ginger but get lumped into a generic ginger category in the Plant files. The last bloom photo is a shampoo ginger which I don't believe is edible.

If your starts are putting up foliage, I would plant them horizontally about one or two inches deep. They will develop more roots which you should be able to leave in soil all winter. Then you can dig up palms of ginger as needed for cooking.

TY very much for the info!

I hadn't heard about eating the leaves before. Fascinating!
https://specialtyproduce.com/p...

I'm ambivalent about the blooms since my interest is primarily culinary, but I do think the last pic is a different species if there is not a progression from the green phase to the red phase, or the other way 'round. The Z. officinale entry should only have pics of that species.

This is a generic space for Zingibers:
Gingers (Zingiber)

I agree with you on the last photo. Sorry but I just assumed they were in the generic ginger category without looking at them. And I agree, that category should only have photos of that species.

Good link on eating the foliage, thank you. I lost one favorite ginger in our hard freeze last winter. Its' foliage was so fragrant with ginger when you brushed it but no edible roots. The foliage was used to wrap fish and other vegetables when steaming. It imparted that flavor to the food. I never got a positive ID on it and do not recall where I got that one.

I personally like the blooming gingers as ornamentals. They do take up a lot of space but when they deliver their beautiful fragrant blooms all is forgiven.

I have lots of turmeric, they are the same family as ginger, but I tried to root mine from a store bought. I bought a turmeric plant from a lady near my hair dresser because of the flowers. I didn't think you can eat the leaves.

TY, Kristi! That's interesting, I will have to try that!

And thank you for the acorn. Sweet!

My pleasure!