Growing Baby Ginger in Moveable Caterpillar Tunnels
Sustainable Agriculture
William Errickson
Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Freehold
Abstract
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial plant that is native to tropical regions of Asia. The continental United States imports most of its ginger from other countries, or from Hawaii, but baby ginger can also be grown locally in temperate regions using low-cost season extension methods. This program was designed to document best growing practices for baby ginger production in temperate regions, and to introduce potential customers to this niche crop to help develop the market for local farmers. In 2021, field trials of baby ginger (var. Peruvian Yellow) were conducted in Central New Jersey at the Rutgers University Cream Ridge Specialty Crop Research and Extension Center using moveable caterpillar tunnels. Eight replicated beds of ginger were planted in twenty-foot rows occupying approximately 600 square feet of field space in the caterpillar tunnels. The ginger was harvested over a four-week period (October 13 to November 3) and yields were measured weekly to determine the optimum harvest dates. Yields ranged from 2.1 to 2.7 lbs. per foot of bed space with an average return of 14.6 lbs. of ginger harvested for every 1 lb. of seed that was planted. A total of 438 lbs. of baby ginger with a retail value of over $7,000 was harvested from the original 30 lbs. of seed that was planted. No significant differences were observed when comparing weekly yield measurements, suggesting that baby ginger can be harvested on any date within this time period without sacrificing yields. After being harvested, ginger samples were donated to local restaurants and other businesses with a survey to complete, indicating their satisfaction with the crop and how likely they might be to purchase it from local growers in the future. The results and recommended growing practices for baby ginger were communicated directly to approximately 250 growers through various outreach methods including twilight meetings, field tours, and in-person and virtual presentations. Additional extension practices included the production of two YouTube videos (728 views) and four social media posts (1,933 people reached). This project has received support from the NJ Vegetable Growers Association for the 2022 season and has led to communications with growers from as distant as Oregon who are interested in improving their production practices for baby ginger in temperate climates.
Authors: William Errickson
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William Errickson Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Jersey, 07728