Zingiber officinale
Zingiberaceae
Ginger
The plants are herbaceous perennials which are clump-forming with large banana-like leaves to 1m tall. Yellow flowers arise from ground level.
Uses
The ginger root is harvested when ripe. It is washed, boiled, peeled, and dried in the sun then powdered. Younger rhizomes have a milder flavour and are juicy. As they age they develop a stronger taste and become drier.
Ginger may settle the stomach, lower cholesterol, reduce blood toxins, treats colds and have anti-inflammatory benefits. There is some evidence of anti-carcinogenic action in animals but this has not yet translated into human research. Other possible uses include treating dyspepsia, flatulence and gastritis. It can be applied to the skin as a rubefacient.
Medicinal Properties: Anti-inflammatory, carminative, stimulant.
Culture
They prefer well-drained, loamy or alluvial fertile soil, frost-free climate with 1500mm of rain annually or supplementary irrigation. Light shade is ideal. They respond well to mulch and annual applications of compost and rotted manure.
In a small scale, they can be very productive grown in a large container.
Cultivars
No information available at this time...
Plant Health
Few significant pests. Roots can rot if they become very wet for long periods.
More info
From Southern China. Significant commercial crop in Queensland, Australia.
The roots contain a range of chemical compounds including resin, volatile oil, gum, lignin, starch, asmazone, acetic acid, and sulphur.