Huns Garden n 2008 Ginger Growing experiment in

Huns Garden n 2008 Ginger Growing experiment in Kansas City Kansas Farm

Ginger Production Trial n n Ginger is a tropical, long-season plant. We wanted to see if we could grow it in the midwest using: n n n High Tunnels for heat and season extension Straw mulch & peat moss for moisture retention & ease of harvest Raised beds (cinder blocks) to hold high-peat moss soil, ease of harvest, moisture retention

Ginger Production Trial n n n One bed in high tunnel, planted in late April One bed in high tunnel, planted in mid-May (post frost) One bed in field, planted in mid-May (post frost)

Sprouting process n n n Ginger is a 2 -3 year crop New plants grow from the rhizomes To grow ginger roots, you sprout new plants from the rhizomes

Sprouting process n Put rhizomes in gallon zip lock bags, sealed with 10 -20 milliliter of water.

Sprouting process cont. n Once sprouts grow higher than the plastic bag, open & water once every other day.

New high tunnel n n n The high tunnel with the early ginger planting got blown away by 90 mile per hour winds. The peat in the bed inside was blown away. We abandoned this bed and did not rebuild.

Raised bed preparation n n Single layer of cinder blocks for walls Beds 4½’ wide, 90’ long

Raised bed preparation n Recycled plastic laid under blocks, then middle cut out to expose soil

Laying cinder block (inside)

Raised bed preparation n n 150 lbs chicken manure per 4’ x 90’ bed Cover with peat moss 68” (top of cinder block)

Transplanting ginger n n Plant sprouted rhizomes about 4” down Spacing originally planned for 12” apart, but because of loss of third bed, we planted at 8” spacing.

Transplanting ginger n Cover soil with 2 -3” of straw

One month after transplant: outside n n Mid-June, outside plants minimal growth Inside row didn’t grow as well as the two outside rows

One month after transplan: t inside n n Mid-June, sturdier and nearly double in size, higher survival rate Inside rows didn’t do as well, the same as outside beds

Farm tour 2008 n July 4, outside crops still small and not vigorous

September: Inside n n Middle row died entirely Outside rows are alive, about 1½’ tall (typically, ginger plants are 3’ tall at harvest)

September: outside n n No irrigation Plants same height as inside high tunnel, but smaller rhizomes at harvest

Harvest n Pull whole plant and roots together

Yields: outside Weight is 0. 97 lbs n The old roots are about 0. 08 lbs, new are. 89 lbs (Sell old roots & new roots separately) n

Yields: outside n This is 1. 28 lbs with the old root

Yields: outside n This is 0. 8 lbs with the old roots

Yields: inside n This root is 2. 92 lbs including the old roots

Yields: inside n This one weighs 6. 24 lbs, including the old roots

Financial cost break down Expenses n Ginger root stock (75 lbs certified organic ginger at $6. 99 lb from Whole Foods ($525. 00)) n High tunnel (20 wx 96 lx 10 h) $2, 500. 00 n Drip irrigation supply $250. 00 n Straw mulch $60. 00 plus City Market donated 10 bales n Cinder block 260 blocks @2. 99/bock plus taxes, $780. 00 n Potting soil for raised bed, 35 bags @13. 99 each $489. 00 Seasonal cost: $899. 00 Infrastructure cost: $3, 280. 00 Income n Sold at $3. 99 lb n 20 lbs/ wk for 9 wks, plus 30 lbs for CSA Approximate income: (210 lbs X $3. 99= $840)

Final note n n Base on our observation of post harvest, we noted that the crop inside the high tunnel is about twice in size, compare to the crop outside. The outside raised bed was too wet because of excessive rain The inside raised bed was in some places too dry, in some “just right” and those had high yields. Next year: n Charge more per pound n Increase yields by providing more consistent moisture inside n Plant wider beds