Ginger Production in the Northeast: Intercropping in Variable Growing Environments to Maximize Harvest Opportunities
Applied Research
Lauren Errickson
Director, Rutgers Gardens and Campus Stewardship
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
North Brunswick
Abstract
Baby ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a niche crop with demonstrated marketability and high profit potential. While baby ginger has been grown successfully in the Northeast, it typically requires a substantial investment for seed stock and, given the time to harvestable maturity, commitment of a protective growing environment. These cost and time-related barriers to production might be mitigated by reducing infrastructure costs and increasing overall revenue. Intercropping practices incorporating other, shorter-season annual vegetables alongside slower-growing ginger may provide additional revenue throughout the season. Additionally, if ginger productivity could be maintained with lower infrastructure inputs than previously thought, farmers might find value in growing and marketing this niche crop. The objectives of this trial were to 1) evaluate yield of baby ginger, green beans, and carrots from an intercropping system toward maximizing row-foot profitability of production space and 2) measure the productivity of baby ginger and intercropped green beans and carrots across three distinct growing environments to demonstrate potential for reduced infrastructure needs. Ginger was grown in raised beds in three different environments—a high tunnel from planting to harvest, in-field with row cover applied late season, and in-field without protective cover—then harvested at maturity (fall 2025). Two additional annual vegetables (green beans and carrots) were interplanted alongside ginger in each of these environments during the first half of the season then harvested at maturity (mid-summer 2025). While high tunnel ginger production was the most successful (2.45lbs, $37/ft), in-field production with (0.84lbs, $12/ft) and without (0.78lbs, $13/ft) late season row cover also produced harvestable crops. From both in-field beds, green beans (2.78lbs, $17/ft and 2.65lbs, $16/ft) and carrots (4.51lbs, $11/ft and 6.48lbs, $16/ft) yielded abundant harvests alongside ginger to supplement overall revenue per linear bed foot. These results demonstrate that, though yields are lessened, ginger can be successfully grown with reduced infrastructure in select areas of the Northeast, thus reducing input costs. Increasing revenue by maximizing production space via intercropping, especially in field-grown production systems without a high tunnel, may be a viable option for ginger production among Northeast growers looking to expand specialty crop production and marketing opportunities.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Lauren Errickson, Alex Sawatzky, William Errickson
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Errickson, L. Director, Rutgers Gardens and Campus Stewardship, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey, 08902
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Sawatzky, A. Assistant Director: Sustainable Agriculture, Rutgers Gardens Student Farm, New Jersey, 08902
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Errickson, W. Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey, 07728