Did you know?
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial plant native to Southeast Asia that has been long used for its spice and as an herbal remedy for stomach ailments and symptoms. It belongs to the same family of herbs as turmeric. Ginger was used for thousands (or more) years in China and other Asian countries before it came to Europe. The rest of the world discovered ginger through trade. Historians know that ginger made its way to the Mediterranean by the first century. By the 1100s, it was becoming well known in parts of Europe. By the 1500s, Spanish explorers started transporting ginger to America.
Ginger Plant
Ginger takes up to 8 -10 months to grow to maturity. Ginger thrives in tropical to subtropical weather. It’s best to plant ginger in early spring and would be ready to harvest by winter. Ginger plants grow up to 4 ft tall with long leaves. Ginger is generally harvested when the plant dies in the winter. The whole ginger plant is edible but the root is most commonly used for its medicinal purposes.
Ginger Flower
During the growing season gingers need to be kept consistently moist, but not standing in water. Most gingers prefer moderate to high humidity. Ginger flowers have diverse looks of flowers with their elegance in form, texture, color and symmetry.
Benefits of Ginger:
Many of the benefits of ginger are for stomach distress and cardiovascular health. It may help with constipation or diarrhea, stomach-upset and nausea. It can help improve circulation and even help alleviate headaches. It also can help clear sinuses and improve immunity – try drinking ginger tea during your next cold!
