Ginger Plant

The ginger plant is a tuber which is known for its medicinal value. Ginger is also used as a spice and delicacy. The botanical name of ginger is Zingiber officinale and it shares the same family (Zingiberaceae) as that of cardamom, turmeric and galangal. Ginger gets its characteristic flavor from the volatile oils viz., shogaols, zingerone and gingerols. The word ginger has originated from the Tamil word, inji ver. The word inji ver attained different forms in various languages starting from siṅgivera in Pali, zingiberis in Greek, gingiber in Latin, gingembre in French and finally ginger in English. Earlier, the plant was grown only in China and India. It reached the European countries 2000 years ago.

How to Grow a Ginger Plant
The ginger roots required for planting are available at grocery shops. It is better to choose fat tubers for healthy growth. Soaking the roots overnight helps in the proper growth. Ginger can also be grown as a houseplant in containers that are 12 inch. deep and 14 inch. wide. The soil to be used should be rich in organic matter and must provide proper drainage. Compost can be used to enrich the soil. The tubers need to be planted with their buds facing upwards and they should be well-spaced. Initially, the ginger should be watered lightly. As the plant grows, heavy watering is recommended. The ginger plant is originally from tropical countries, thus, the pot should preferably be placed outdoors under light shade. These plants grow well in a temperature between 70-80ºF. In a cooler weather, the plant should be moved indoors to keep it warm. In a period of 1 year, the plant reaches a height of 2-4 feet. The stems of ginger are dug up from the ground and kept in a refrigerator for further use.

Medicinal and Culinary Use
The medicinal properties of ginger and its use as a culinary item, makes it one of the important plants of daily use. The paragraphs mentioned below present the relevant information.

Medicinal Use
The ginger provides remedies on many health problems. It is most commonly used as a stimulant. Let us have a look at few more medicinal properties of ginger. Ginger helps in fighting flatulence by preventing the formation of gases in the intestinal tract. Thus, it is used as a carminative. A constituent called zingerone, helps in combating Escherichia coli, a bacterium which is the causal organism of diarrhea. Infant deaths in developing countries can be reduced to a great extent with the help of ginger. Nausea which results from chemotherapy, morning sickness and seasickness can be reduced by the use of ginger.

Culinary Use
The slightly biting taste of ginger adds spice to food and therefore, it is used in various curry dishes, sauces, pickles, confections, etc. The ginger tea for colds which is made by stewing ginger in boiling water is good for health. Lemon fruit can be added to ginger tea for obtaining good taste. The ginger is known to be a food preservative. This is because, the salmonella (a harmful bacteria) is killed due to the chemical properties of ginger. In countries like Japan, there is a practice to eat ginger between dishes/courses in order to clear the palate. Ginger is also used in the preparation of candy in South India. This ginger candy is known as Inji-murappa in Tamil.

Ginger Plant Flowers
The various ginger varieties are known for the beautiful flowers they produce, along with medicinal properties and culinary uses. The white ginger plant produces scented flowers and is a popular garden plant. This ornamental plant is a native of Himalayas and is also known as butterfly flower or ginger lily. The red ginger is also known for the beautiful flowers it produces. The bright red bracts of this flower enhance the appearance of flower arrangements.

Ginger has many different uses, owing to its medicinal properties and the inclusion in various dishes. Thus, ginger should be included in the dishes we prepare and in medicines used for health problems.