Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network

Welcome to the fragrant, wonderful world of growing your own ginger!

Ginger is a spice because we use and enjoy its roots. And it’s an herb, too, because the foliage can also be used in cooking or as a garnish. When you cook with ginger, you can go sweet or savory. Eat it. Drink it. Love it!

Ginger is a tropical plant, but that doesn’t have to stop you from growing it. We’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing, harvesting, and eating—with some easy-to-prepare and tasty recipes—your own home-grown ginger.

In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some history and basics about ginger—to get you ready for growing your own. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about ginger gardening—with info on the hardiest plants, soil preparation, watering, weeding, and controlling and preventing disease.

If you’re already an advanced food gardener, some of this may be refresher content for you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the history of ginger and the recipes!

 In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about four popular varieties of ginger, with specific details about the characteristics and best uses for particular types of ginger.

While there are many varieties of the most common ginger, we’ve chosen these four ginger plant profiles to give you an idea of what you can grow. If you’d like us to include another ginger variety that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.

We are, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners—who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing our own delicious food at home!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Ginger is no exception!

These ginger recipes include uses for salads, sauces—and cookies! You will be sure to delight everyone at your table when you share your next ginger-enhanced meal; some of these recipes may become repeat requests in your household. Enjoy your ginger harvest with these tasty recipes, and your family and friends will appreciate all of your ginger growing efforts!

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Ginger to find out exactly which nutrients are found in ginger—and to what degree—and the most common compounds. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Ginger will help you learn about how key nutrients in ginger can help prevent some diseases and some forms of cancer. You’ll also learn all about other benefits and uses for ginger, besides just enjoying their home-grown deliciousness.

To help you explore the wonderful world of ginger even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious ginger, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

Now, go and be the best ginger grower you can be!