Varieties

Season (planting time)

The best time for planting ginger is during the first fortnight of April, after receipt of pre-monsoon showers. For irrigated ginger, the best suited for planting is middle of february (for vegetable ginger)

Planting materials

Mark healthy and disease free plants in the field when the crop is 6-8 months old and still green. Select best rhizomes free from pest and disease from the marked plants. Handle seed rhizomes carefully to avoid damage buds. Soak the selected rhizomes for 30 minutes in a solution of mancozeb and malathion to give terminal concentration of 0.3 % for the former and 0.1 % for the latter. Dry the treated rhizomes in shade by spreading on the floor. Store the treated rhizomes in shade by spreading on the floor.

Examine the stored rhizomes at monthly intervals and remove the rhizomes that shows signs of rotting. This will help to keep the inoculam level low. Provide one or two holes for better aeration. Treat the seed rhizomes similarly before polanting also.

Methods of planting

Ginger is a tropical plant adapted for cultivation even in regions of subtropical climate such as the high ranges. It prefers rich soil with high humus content. Being an exhausting crop, ginger is not cultivated continuously in the same field but shifting cultivation is practised. The crop cannot withstand waterlogging and hence soils with good drainage are preferred for its cultivation.

Irrigation

Ginger cultivated both irrigated as well as raimfed.

Fertilizer

ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

Apply 80 kg FYM + 8 kg neem cake + 4 kg ash + 16 kg vermicopost per cent. Also use Azospiririllum and P-solubilising bacteria (20 g/bed of 3*1 m) as nutrient supplement. Drench the beds with PGPR GRB 35 (Bcillus amyloliguifacians) for growth promotion and suppression of soft rot disease.

CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS

Full dose of P₂O₅ and 50% of K₂O may be applied as basal. Half the quantity of N may be applied as 60 days after planting. The remaining quantity of N and K₂O may be applied 120 days after planting.

Harvesting

For vegetable ginger, the crop can be harvested from sixth month onwards. For dry ginger, harvest the crop between 245-260 days. After harvest, the fibrous roots attached to the rhizomes are trimmed off and soil is removed by washing. Rhizomes are soaked in water overnight and then cleaned. The skin is removed by scrapping with sharp bamboo splits or such other materials. Never use metalic substances since they will discolour the rhizomes. After scrapping, the rhizomes are sun dried for a week with frequent turnings. They are again rubbed well by hand to remove outer skin.

Value added product

Ginger Oil : Ginger oil is prepared commercially by steam distillation of dried powderd ginger. The yield of oil varies from 1.3 to 3.0 %. The major use of ginger oil is as a flavouring agent for beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Ginger Oleoresin : Oleoresin from ginger is obtained conventionally by extraction of dried powderd ginger with organic solvents like ethyl acetate, ethanol or acetone. Commercial dried ginger yields 3.5-10% oleoresin. Ginger  oleoresin is a dark brown viscous liquid responsible for flavour and pungency of the spice.

Other information

Ginger is a tropical plant adapted for cultivation even in regions of subtropical climate such as high ranges. it prefers a rich soil with high humus content. Being an exhausting crop ginger is not cultivated continuously in the same field but shifting cultivation is practised. The crop cannot withstand waterlogging and hence soils with good drainage are preferred for its cultivation. it is shade tolerant/ loving crop with shallow roots and therefore suitable for intercropping and as a component in the homesteads where low to medium shade is available.