hi pm , hmm never thought of growing ginger not got a clue how to though something for me to think about,im sure you will get an answer soon..:o))

Hi Pottingmad, I potted some last year in fairly large pots, only because they got so big in the garden, but I'm not sure if they will have survived this bad winter, not all of them are hardy. Very architectural foliage. I have to say when I was digging them up the smell of ginger was lovely.

The flower looks really pretty and i am thinking ahead to the warmer weather. I fancy trying to grow a few more tropical and heat loving plants this summer. I bought this root from Wilkinsons so it only cost £1.99, thought I would gibe it a go. Oh, by the way has the weather allowed you to start putting up the greenhouse ?

yes pm but weather & work keeps stopping play,i hope it will be done by the weekend & i will put it on here lol..may have a look in wilcos for the ginger & try it...

Have a look at http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/ginger_grow_it.html

I'm a little confused. Are you talking about Zingibar officinale (ginger root) or hedychium (ginger lily)? Zingibar is the type you buy in the store. It likes shade and moisture, but really isn't very large. The flowers last 1 day and are interesting. It takes a year or two before it starts flowering. Plant in a large pot and barely cover. Hedychium has large roots and grows to 6 feet. Usually it has large yellow heads of flowers that are very fragrant. It also comes in white and red. The leaves are large. Both like warmer temperatures.

Thank you WZ for the help. It is actually Ginger Lily, Hedychium on the label t and the flower is red. I will put it in the warmest part of the garden and definitely where I can support it by the sounds of it. I am thinking that I should probably lift the tubers and store them in dry compost over winter ? Do you think it should be a little shaded as well for the summer ?

It does best in full sun. I have the yellow and the white, and they spread slowly just under ground, but the roots are thick and long. Maybe a good mulch will help in winter. The Portugese use the leaves in baking bread (you may have seen it in one episode of "Two Fat Ladies").

thanks wagger,just had a look at site, got some ginger in my veg rack which has those growths on so will try it cheers..:o)

It was hedychium I was refering to pm & yes they do have large fleshy roots as Wylieinthea says, but don't think you could lift them every year. I should think you could grow them outside as you aren't much further up the line than me if you're in Dorset. Pam.

Thanks Pam. I am actually just about to build a slightly raised bed around one of my palm trees, if it would stop raining for a day, so it would probably work in there. I thought that it might be a good idea to start it off in a pot and then plant it out when the weather warms up. That sounds like a good idea about the edible ginger as well.

That would look good Pm. They grow five or six foot, it would start you off on a tropical feel with the palm trees, maybe in the winter, although the foliage usually dies down, put a thick mulch around the roots.