How to grow Ginger in New Zealand
Culinary ginger is a subtropical plant grown for its spicy rhizomes. In New Zealand it does best in warm, sheltered, frost-free gardens in Northland, Auckland and coastal Bay of Plenty, and elsewhere it is a pot plant for a glasshouse, tunnel house or sunny conservatory. Plant a plump piece in spring once the soil is warm, and dig your crop when the leaves die back in autumn.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Ginger in New Zealand
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | September to December | |
| Auckland | September to December | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | October and November | Plant rhizomes Oct to Nov once the frosts are over, in a warm sheltered spot. Coastal Bay of Plenty suits ginger best; inland, grow it in a large pot. |
| Central North Island | Not suited | Too cold outdoors. Grow it in a pot indoors or in a heated glasshouse. |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | October and November | Marginal. Plant rhizomes Oct to Nov in a warm sheltered spot or a large pot, and lift them before winter. Expect small harvests. |
| Nelson & Marlborough | October and November | Marginal. Plant rhizomes Oct to Nov in a warm sheltered spot or a large pot, and lift them before the May frosts. Expect small harvests. |
| Canterbury | Not suited | Too cold outdoors. Grow it in a pot indoors or in a heated glasshouse. |
| Otago & Southland | Not suited | Too cold outdoors. Grow it in a pot indoors or in a heated glasshouse. |
| Central Otago | Not suited | Too cold outdoors. Grow it in a pot indoors or in a heated glasshouse. |
Not to be confused with: Wild ginger, also called kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum), and yellow ginger (Hedychium flavescens). These ornamental gingers are serious weeds on the National Pest Plant Accord and must not be sold, propagated or shared. Edible ginger is Zingiber officinale.
Where to plant
Ginger wants warmth, shelter and steady moisture. Plant it in rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of compost, in a sheltered spot out of wind that gets filtered sun or part shade. Heavy mulch helps keep the soil moist and warm. Rhizomes rot in cold, wet soil, so good drainage matters as much as warmth.
Where frosts are regular, grow ginger in a pot that can live in a glasshouse, tunnel house or conservatory, or come indoors over winter.
- Northland and Auckland: plant from September to December in a warm, sheltered spot. These are the easiest places in New Zealand to grow ginger in the ground.
- Waikato and Bay of Plenty: plant in October and November once the frosts are over. Coastal Bay of Plenty suits it best; inland, grow it in a large pot.
- Wellington and Nelson and Marlborough: marginal. Plant in October or November in a warm, sheltered spot or a large pot, lift the rhizomes before winter frosts and expect small harvests.
- Central North Island, Canterbury, Otago, Southland and Central Otago: too cold outdoors. Grow it in a pot in a heated glasshouse or indoors.
Choosing a variety
| Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Common ginger (Zingiber officinale) | The culinary ginger, grown from a fresh, plump rhizome with visible buds, from a garden centre or greengrocer. Grows to about 90 cm |
| Myoga or Japanese ginger (Zingiber mioga) | Grown for its edible shoots and flower buds rather than the rhizome. Hardier and cold tolerant, likes damp soil and some shade, dies down in winter and can spread quickly |
| Galangal (Alpinia galanga) | A larger relative, up to about 2 m, used in Thai cooking, with aromatic rhizomes |
Check labels carefully. Some ornamental gingers look similar, and the wild Hedychium gingers are banned pest plants.
How to plant
- In spring, choose a fresh, plump rhizome with visible buds, often called eyes.
- Cut it into pieces at least 3 cm wide, each with one or more eyes, and leave them a few days to dry and seal the cut surfaces.
- Plant the pieces about 5 cm deep and 20 to 25 cm apart, buds facing up, in rich, well-drained soil or a pot of quality potting mix.
- Water lightly and keep the soil just moist, not wet, until shoots appear, which can take several weeks.
- Once shoots are up, mulch well and feed every week or two with a liquid plant food.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist through the warm months while the plant is growing, but never soggy. Mulch helps a lot.
Feed regularly through the growing season with a liquid plant food, as ginger is a hungry crop. In autumn, when the leaves yellow and die down, stop watering and let the soil dry out before you harvest.
Harvesting
Ginger is ready about eight months after planting. The leaves dying back in autumn are your signal: dig up the whole clump with a fork. You can also break off young pieces from the edge of the clump earlier in the season for milder, tender ginger.
Keep a few healthy pieces to replant next spring. Lifting and replanting each year gives better crops than leaving clumps in the ground. Unpeeled ginger keeps in the fridge, or wrap it and freeze it for up to about two months.
Growing in pots
Pots are the best way to grow ginger in most of New Zealand. Use a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep with quality potting mix, plant one piece per pot, and keep it in a warm, sheltered spot or under cover. Bring it into a glasshouse or indoors over winter, as ginger is not frost tolerant. At harvest you can tip the pot out, take what you need and replant the rest.
Companion planting
Ginger is best grown with plants that share its love of warmth, shade and moist, rich soil.
Good companions
- Turmeric A close relative with the same needs for warmth, part shade and moist, rich soil, and it is grown and harvested the same way.
Pests and diseases
Ginger has few pests in home gardens. Rot from cold, wet soil is the main cause of failure.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Small insects on the young shoots; usually minor.
Diseases to watch for
- Rhizome rot Soft, rotting, bad-smelling rhizomes and yellowing shoots, usually in cold or waterlogged soil. Plant only firm, healthy pieces into warm, well-drained soil.
Common questions
Can I grow ginger from supermarket ginger?
Often, yes. Choose a fresh, plump piece with visible buds, cut it into pieces at least 3 cm wide, let the cuts dry for a few days and plant in spring once the soil is warm. Some shop ginger is old or dried out and will not sprout.
Where can ginger grow outdoors in New Zealand?
It grows best outdoors in warm, sheltered, frost-free spots in Northland and Auckland, and in coastal Bay of Plenty. In Wellington and Nelson it is marginal. In the central North Island and the South Island grow it in a pot in a glasshouse or indoors.
When do I harvest ginger?
About eight months after planting, in autumn, when the leaves yellow and die down. Stop watering, let the soil dry and dig the whole clump. You can steal small young pieces from the edge earlier.
Is the ginger plant growing wild in the bush edible ginger?
No. The tall gingers with yellow or cream flower spikes found in bush edges are wild or kahili ginger and yellow ginger, Hedychium species. They are pest plants under the National Pest Plant Accord and must not be planted or shared.
Why did my ginger rot?
Ginger rots in cold, wet soil, especially if planted before the soil warms or kept too wet before shoots appear. Plant in spring into warm, free-draining soil, water lightly until it sprouts, and stop watering when it dies down.
Can I grow ginger in a pot?
Yes, and in most of New Zealand that is the best way. Use a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep, keep it warm and sheltered, and move it under cover or indoors for winter.
Sources we checked: Yates NZ: How to grow ginger; NZ Lifestyle Block (Our Way of Life): Why you should grow ginger in your garden; Weedbusters: Wild ginger; Wikipedia: National Pest Plant Accord (species list).