Chinese Wild Ginger (Asarum splendens)

I bought this at a sale and I'm trying to figure out if it is the kind of ginger you eat? I didn't realize some gingers cannot be eaten. ? When looking at a ginger plant, how can you tell? or can you?

Not sure if the ornamental gingers are even edible. I do grow my own edible ginger in a large pot from an organic (to ensure no growth inhibitors) rhizome I purchased. I grow it year-round - outdoors during the growing season and indoors during winter. It looks nothing like ornamental ginger - maybe more like a bamboo? I can harvest it anytime I need it.

Cindy ... how long did it take you to get your ginger started initially? I've been trying to get it started for weeks. I think I may see a small green sprout finally, but I'm not sure. I purchased it from Whole Foods so I thought it would be a good one.

None of my ginger is edible, just ornamental ('White Butterfly' ginger). It is all now starting to come up and in fact I am shipping out 5 rhizomes tomorrow.

will this be hardy where I live?

It should be hardy, but there are so many micro-climates in these zones. I don't mulch mine and it does fine down to the lower teens. If I lived in Springfield, I would heavily much my plants and if you only have a few rhizomes or have it only in pots, I would dig it up and store it in a dry place, with temperatures above 20F. Living in zone 8b, it is really hard for me to give definitive answers for those in zones or sub-zones other than mine.

ok thanks for the info. I guess I will not eat it! but I will mulch it!

I noticed a piece of ginger I had bought from the store had sent out a sprout. Never happened before so I planted it in a pot. It is slowly unfurling in a tall skinny plant. Assuming it is edible as that is what I bought it for. So how can you harvest any of it without killing the plant?

Humm, good question, Mary. I would assume that you have to wait until that rhizome grows laterally enough that you could take a section of the rhizome for kitchen purposes and leave a fair-size piece to continue to grow. I have never grown edible ginger, so someone else should have a better answer than my guess. Much of what we purchase in grocery stores is either hybridized so that it won't sprout or is treated chemically so as to inhibit sprouting.

I hope someone answers your question, too, Mary. I'm trying to get some ginger growing that I purchased at Whole Foods. It is finally sprouting and I have seen conflicting articles/videos on the internet as to how to grow and harvest. I'd love to hear from someone here that has experience with it.

I have been told that the store bought ginger is coated with a growth inhibitor of some kind to keep it from sprouting on the shelf, pro-long shelf life. I think you can use a small brush and gently wash them w warm water to remove it. Some people store ginger in sand after harvesting, this keeps it from drying out. I don't know about when/how to harvest it though.

I was really surprised as I didn't do anything with it but toss it in a little ceramic basket that I keep garlic in that sits on my counter - about 2x3x2". Guess it dodged the inhibitor.

I bought an organic ginger rhizome to make sure it wasn't sprayed with a growth retardant. I cut it into pieces, each with a little nub where the stem would emerge. I let the pieces dry for a day before planting. I used fresh potting soil (usually Pro-Mix for me) and added some organic matter - compost, worm castings, etc. I chose a big decorative plastic pot - lightweight for hauling in and out of the house seasonally and big because I like to make carrot ginger dressing often and want enough ginger on hand. I planted the ginger pieces about 3 inches down. They should sprout within a few weeks, dependent upon warmth and humidity. They like a sunny spot but I would give them afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. I do continue to grow them organically since I'm going to be eating the rhizomes. The stems can get a couple of feet tall. The stems will die off without sufficient light and humidity but that's okay. This usually happens in my house during winter. You can continue to harvest the rhizomes as needed. If you harvest too big of a piece, you can put the remainder back in the soil as long as you haven't peeled it. You don't have to dig up the rhizomes just because the stems die off. The stems will resprout when conditions are favorable. I've never had to buy more than the original piece.

Good information!

Thanks, Cindy. Just the information I was hoping for.

Just remember the ginger is not cold-hardy. I definitely have to move it indoors over winter. I have some grow lights for my lemon tree and just stick the pot of ginger under the lights to keep the green stuff growing. Compulsion, I guess.

P.S. Have to admit that I had heard about growing ginger from You Bet Your Garden and Dr. Dirt.

If i can get a 2nd pot of it going, I may try leaving it outside all winter 'just to see' and bring it in only on nights where it will get below 40°. Last year the coldest night at my house was 36°. I am definitely seeing some green on the one rhizome that I planted. but I've had 3 that rotted

Thanks again for the info. Doesn't matter where you got your info, I appreciate you passing it on as well as your experience with it.

Hmm - if they're rotting, could your soil be too wet?