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Post by spike on Sept 3, 2022 17:05:16 GMT -5
I managed to get my hands on a large amount of fresh ginger. What is the best way to preserve it?
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Sept 3, 2022 17:33:39 GMT -5
I always liked Ginger, of course Mary Ann was ok too.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Sept 3, 2022 17:34:49 GMT -5
Back to your question, I have no clue. I don’t use it much.
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Post by Hensaplenty on Sept 3, 2022 19:39:59 GMT -5
You can cut 1 inch pieces off and freeze it. You can grow some in a pot. Too late this year, but if you get some fresh pieces in late spring, soak over night & plant them shallow in a 3 gallon pot or larger. Water when needed and watch it sprout. Likes full sun and let it grow all summer. Harvest in fall before freezing temps arrive.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 3, 2022 19:41:20 GMT -5
I peel ginger, cut it into pieces the size I usually use in recipes, then freeze in vacuum sealed bags. This is for the savory dishes. Then there is candied ginger - a lot of ways of doing it out there. I've never dried ginger, for grinding into powder.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 7, 2022 9:58:04 GMT -5
You can also grow ginger as a houseplant this winter if you have a warm and sunny spot. Cut off some ginger to use now for recipes and plant the rest. Then you'll have more ginger next year.
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Post by rdback on Sept 8, 2022 13:35:59 GMT -5
You can also grow ginger as a houseplant this winter if you have a warm and sunny spot. Cut off some ginger to use now for recipes and plant the rest. Then you'll have more ginger next year. Phew! Sure am glad you wrote this lol. I found the remnants of a hand-of-ginger pushed way back in the fridge earlier this year. It was all shriveled up, but looked like there might be a little life in it. I said what-the-heck, so I cut it into a few pieces that looked like there might be a "nub" that would grow, kinda like chitting a potato. Fast forward a few months and... My plan was to bring it in and try to overwinter it, but had no idea if that would work. So now I'm kinda looking forward to it!
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Post by september on Sept 8, 2022 14:30:25 GMT -5
rdback , Laura_in_FL , Wow! I always end up with those pieces of ginger in the fridge that only have a little end used up before they are hidden by other stuff and forgotten! I wondered about trying to grow them instead of tossing them. So you would grow them for what, about a year? To harden and size up the piece of old root, and then dig it up and use part of it again? Or more years needed if it's a slow grower?
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 10, 2022 12:59:59 GMT -5
How long it takes to grow a harvestable amount will depend on light and temperature, especially temperature. Ginger is subtropical and loves HEAT and regular moisture (not wet feet, though). If ginger is exposed to cool temperatures, it will go dormant. So, the warmer the growing area and the better lit it is, the faster it will grow. Here's a blog post from a woman in Vermont who had great success with indoor ginger: practicalselfreliance.com/how-to-grow-ginger/There should be enough root mass to harvest some ginger in a matter of months if you can keep it in strong, active growth. If your ginger's foliage does die back for no apparent reason, it may not be dead or dying. Ginger is known for going into dormancy occasionally, even in the tropics. (In my climate, it naturally goes dormant every November when we start getting cool nights.) Natural dormancy is a good time to harvest, divide, and replant. You may even consider deliberately triggering dormancy when it's convenient for you by moving it to a cool - BUT NEVER FREEZING - spot such as a garage or a basement. Ginger is a shade plant in its native range, but up where you are the sun is much less intense for most of the year. Ginger would probably enjoy having its pot moved outside for the summer if you have nights consistently 55F or above. Give it protection from intense afternoon sun, but morning sun should be fine. Just be sure to gradually harden it off to direct sunlight. It's a lovely foliage plant indoors. Hope you enjoy growing it!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 10, 2022 13:03:50 GMT -5
rdback, you had the right idea putting it into a windowsill planter. Ginger thrives in shallow containers, and over time the container will fill up with fat, tasty roots. When it cools off (nights start getting below 55) just bring that windowsill planter right in to a warm, sunny, (preferably) South-facing windowsill and you should be good to go.
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Post by september on Sept 10, 2022 21:40:07 GMT -5
Thanks, Laura_in_FL , that sounds doable. Will check my fridge for a wayward piece of ginger.
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Post by rdback on Sept 11, 2022 11:13:10 GMT -5
rdback , you had the right idea putting it into a windowsill planter. Ginger thrives in shallow containers, and over time the container will fill up with fat, tasty roots. When it cools off (nights start getting below 55) just bring that windowsill planter right in to a warm, sunny, (preferably) South-facing windowsill and you should be good to go.
Yep...planned ahead...sure I did, lol. Truth be told, that was the closet pot within reach, ha.
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