The ginger plant, Zingiber officinale, is native to Southeast Asia, specifically to regions like India and China. It has been cultivated for its culinary and medicinal properties for thousands of years. Zingiber officinale is a herbaceous perennial plant that typically grows to a height of around 3-4 feet (1-1.2 meters). It has long, narrow leaves and cone-shaped yellow-green flowers.
Rhizomes: The rhizome of Zingiber officinale is the part of the plant that is most commonly used. It is an underground stem that is harvested for culinary purposes, both fresh and dried.
Ginger can be grown in the ground in moderate Zone 9-12 climates. It likes 4-5 hours a day of full sun, moist but well-drained loose soil and temperatures ranging between 70 & 90F. In areas where the ground freezes, it can be grown in containers. Rhizomes multiply! One Rhizome can turn into 4-10 in a season. Harvest in the fall. Leave some planted for continued crops!
The rhizomes can be stored over the winter in the soil in the container or can be dug, cleaned and stored in a brown paper bag in a cool, dry place, but don't refrigerate rhizomes for replanting. Growth will resume with new shoots in early spring if kept warm and in a bright spot,