Ginger which can be met almost on each Russian table now belongs to family of ginger. These plants it is from tropical forests of the Southern Asia. Ginger is grown up in many countries with warm climate. But it is possible to grow up it and in house conditions.
Ginger familiar to all has the scientific name - "pharmaceutical ginger". This grassy plant with tuberiform rhizome which just is also used in cookery. Ginger belongs to quite extensive and various family of ginger. It contains more than one thousand plant species. Among them not less known, than ginger, turmeric and cardamom.
Ginger in the nature
The majority of ginger – tropical plants. Their homeland is the Southern Asia. Some plant species of this family meet on New Guinea, in Northeast Australia, in tropics of Africa and America. Separate types grow also in more temperate climate. For example, in forests on the Japanese island of Kyushu it is possible to meet ginger Japanese.
All ginger are perennial plants. Their thick, tuberiform rhizomes and also stalks, leaves and seeds contain essential oils. It gives to plants specific smell and spicy, sometimes burning taste. Some types of ginger blossom very beautifully. Though separate flowers are short-lived because they are collected in quite large inflorescences, the decorative effect remains long time. Some plants grow up in greenhouses in those countries where ginger in the nature do not meet.
Cultivation of ginger
The homeland of that ginger which is used in cookery is Southeast Asia. Throughout the millennia the people apply this plant as spicy additive to food. Through India ginger has got to China, Europe, America.
Now ginger exclusively cultural plant. It is cultivated in many countries with suitable climate. It is India, Vietnam, China, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, the countries of the western Africa.
For landings of ginger use pieces of its rhizomes with the sleeping kidneys. Land in the early spring. The first escapes appear in one or one and a half months. At the correct leaving and favorable conditions the stalks of ginger can be extended to two meters. The harvest ripens in half a year or year, depending on the place of growth. Signal that it is time to reap crop, plant leaves which turn yellow are and fall down. The dug-out rhizomes of ginger wash out, process as necessary. Grow up ginger and as houseplant. Certainly, in house conditions it will look a little differently, is more modest in sizes. Will grow and please however owners. Its magnificent greens and unusual flowers involve many flower growers. It is possible to grow up house ginger from the back bought in shop. The main thing, that on dust rhizome live kidneys. They something remind potato "eyes". For landing choose wide pot as the root system of ginger expands in breadth. It is necessary to use drainage. One more important condition is the earth, it has to be friable, integrally rich and rather humidified. Best of all the substrate consisting of equal proportions of sand, peat, the sheet and cespitose earth will approach.
It is necessary to remember that ginger – plant tropical. It needs heat and constant spraying. However excessive watering can damage. Organic fertilizing will be appropriate.
The root which is grown up thus can be used in food. Though now ginger can be bought without problems in shops.