Ginger?

[Franco]

I'm totally clueless on pretty much everything about gardening. So, is it possible to get ginger seeds? I discussed it with my mom and we realized that potatoes don't come from seed they come from other potatoes, so how did the first potato come about? If it is possible to get ginger seeds i would definitely like to buy some. Thanks.

[Newt]

Franco, I don't want to get in trouble with your mom, but potatoes do come from seed. It just takes too long for the potato to form, so we grow them from the tubers (a potato is a tuber) that form after growing for a long time. I'm sure you know that tulips and daffodils grow from bulbs, but those bulbs were once a seed. It can take 5 to 7 years before the bulb will form and be able to feed the plant so it will bloom. Take a look here.
http://www.actahort.org/books/23/23_68.htm

I'm sure you could get ginger seeds. Are you wanting to grow the ginger used in cooking? There are many different gingers. Do a google for ginger seed. Use this site to see if the nursery has good references.
http://davesgarden.com/gwd/

Newt

[Franco]

Ahh haha thanks so much. I've never really heard of a potato seed so it suprised me when i read that. And yes, I'm using the ginger for cooking. Thanks for the links.

EDIT: Since you say there are different types of ginger seeds which ones should I be looking at to use for cooking?

[Newt]

I couldn't remember the botanical name so I did a google search with the term:
edible ginger
and found this site:
http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/growing_and_us ... ingers.htm

The one you find in your grocery store is called Zingiber officinale. You can now search google with that name and get more growing info.

Newt

[Franco]

Ah thanks so much. My family LOVES ginger and I can't wait to get it.

[jstr12]

Horizon herbs has many herb including a couple types of ginger. I think they are plants though or living roots. I've looked into ginger myself and love that site. Heres a link to the ginger most medicinally potent:http://www.horizonherbs.com/product.asp?specific=jqgoppp0 From the picture its the same variety as in store with the latin name only 3 las letters off. Though 1 could be plural and the other single. I dunno I don't speak latin although that would be nice!

jstr

[Franco]

Thank you!

[turtleguy]

If you want to start growing ginger for food, all you have to do is buy a nice big ginger root from the grocery store. Look for one that is plump and fresh. If it looks like it has small greenish bulges on it, it will be perfect. I bought one and planted it out just beneath the soil surface. In your area, I would use a large pot. Don't water too much until you start to see growth. Even this method will take awhile to produce a good ginger yield, but seeds would take much longer!!!