It’s great to hear that you want to grow your own ginger! Just to clarify, the edible ginger you’re interested in is quite different from the flowering ginger you mention, which is the noxious wild ginger Hedychium gardnerianum. While the latter can be invasive, edible ginger (Zingiber officinale) can thrive beautifully in your garden with the right care.

Best Location

Ginger is a tropical plant, so it does best in a very warm position, either in the ground or in a container.

Ginger Rhizomes

A rhizome is root that stores nutrients and produces new shoots. In ginger, the edible rhizome is what you plant and harvest.

When to plant

Plant ginger October to November in warm areas and November to December in cool areas.

Starting Off

• You can find ginger rhizomes at fruit shops or supermarkets. Look for those with healthy “eyes” (the small growth points) where new shoots will sprout.
• If planting directly in the garden, sprout the rhizomes first by soaking them in warm water for a few hours or placing them in a warm, moist spot to encourage growth before planting out.

Preparing Your Garden

• It’s important to prepare your soil well with plenty of compost or garden mix. 
• If possible, use raised beds to ensure good drainage and to help the soil warm up faster in spring.
• Don‘t plant the rhizomes too deep, keep it to about a 5 cm depth, making sure the eyes are facing upwards. 
• If growing in pots, use Daltons Premium Potting Mix.

Caring for Your Ginger

• After planting, give them a thorough watering, but be careful not to overwater during the growing season, as too much moisture can cause the rhizomes to rot.
• If you're growing ginger in pots, bring them indoors during winter, as they are not frost tolerant.

Harvesting

• In autumn, your ginger will be ready for harvest. Stop watering once the green stems die down, and let the soil dry out before harvesting. 
• Be cautious of slugs and snails, as they can be pesky; check regularly and control as needed.