Monday, October 21, 2013

Ginger, Zingiber officinale

https://www.plantvillage.com/topics/ginger/infos

Harvested ginger rhizomes    

Ginger grows best in warm and sunny climates in a deep but well draining soil or loam that is high in organic matter The optimum soil pH for growth of ginger is between 6.0 and 6.5. The plant requires a minimum temperature of 15.5°C (59.9°F). Ginger is vegetatively propagated from small sections of the rhizome, called sets. Sets are produced by cutting a small 3–6 cm from a living rhizome and should be planted at a depth of 5–12 cm, leaving 15–35 cm between plants and 25–30 cm between rows. For optimal growth, the soil temperature at planting should not fall below 25°C(77°F). The rhizomes are harvested after the stems wither by digging them up carefully.

Ginger plants can be propagated from the rhizome (root) you would buy at the grocery store or you can find somewhere to purchase online. If using store bought root, you should soak the root in water for 24 hours before planting as sometimes the roots are sprayed with an anti-sprouting agent before they go on sale. 

Ginger is vegetatively propagated from small sections of the rhizome, called sets (seehttps://www.plantvillage.com/topics/ginger/infos). Sets are produced by cutting a small 3–6 cm (1-2 in) section from the rhizome ensuring that each has at least one bud, which will produce the shoot. Air drying the set before propagation will help prevent fungal diseases. 

If you wish to plant in the garden you can either plant directly or, if you live in a cooler climate, start the root indoors and produce transplants. This can be achieved by covering the sets with potting soil, manure or sawdust and keeping moist until the shoots of the new plants are 1-2 cm when they are ready to be moved into the garden. 

Ginger can also be successfully grown in containers either indoors or out. You should plant the sets in a container that is at least 16 in wide and 12 in deep that has been filled with a good quality potting soil. Press the sets into the soil and lightly cover. It is important that the soil (and container) provide good drainage and you should keep the soil moist but not waterlogged and not let it it dry out. 

Finally, ginger plants do not like direct sunlight so place the container in a partly shaded area. 


https://www.plantvillage.com/posts/160

Diseases

  • Fusarium rhizome rot
  • White fungus
  • Bacterial soft rot (Erwinia sp.)
  • Pythium
  • Armillaria
  • Big bud (bunchy top)
  • Root-knot nematodes

Insect pests

  • Cutworm
  • Heliothis
  • African black beetle
  • Symphilids


Pests of Ginger:

1) Shoot Borer: It prepares holes in the pseudo stem. Grass is thrown out of the holes and central shoot becomes yellow and withers.
Control: Spray 0.1% malathion at monthly interval from July to August.
2. Rhizome Flies: The maggots bore into rhizome and feed on it.
Control: Spray 0.05% methly parathion, 2 - 3 times from July onwards.
3. Leaf Roller: The caterpillar feeds from within the leaf by folding it.
Control: Spray 0.05 % dimethoate.

4. Scales: They suck sap from rhizomes and cause them to shrive! and dry up.
Control: Dip the rhizomes in 0.05 % dimethoate at planting.

Diseases of Ginger:
1. Soft -Rot: It is- the most - destructive- -disease causing total loss of affected clumps. Light yellowing of tips of lower leaves spreads downwards to leaf blades. It spreads to all leaves of plant and is followed by drooping, withering and drying. Rotting spreads to rhizomes from collar region of stem. Disease spreads from seed, rhizomes and soil.

Control:
                                                              
a) Provide proper drainage.
b) Select disease-free rhizomes for sowing.
c) Treat seed rhizomes with 03 % Dithane M -45 for 30 minutes before storage and before planting.
d) Drench the beds with same fungicide or Captafol @ 0.1 %.

2) Leaf Spot:
 Small oval or elongated spots with white centre and dark brown margin develop on leaves.
Control: Spray 1 % Bordeaux mixture.
3) Bacterial Wilt: Mild, dropping and curling of leaf margin of lower leaves is seen which spreads upwards. Plants wilt with pseudo stem showing dark streaks.
Control: Spray streptocycline @ 200 ppm.


Common Pests and Diseases

Bacterial soft rot

SymptomsCauseScientific nameComments
Light yellow lower leaf tips; yellow leaves; drooping, withered leavesBacteriaErwinia spp.Favors water logged fields

Bacterial wilt

SymptomsCauseScientific nameComments
Yellowing and wilting of lower leaves; wilting shoot; gray or brown discoloration on underground stem; slimy oozeBacteriaPseudomonas solanacearum

Fusarium yellows (Rhizome rot)

SymptomsCauseScientific nameComments
Stunted plant growth; yellow leaves and stems; brown discoloration of water conducting tissue within stemFungusFusarium oxysporumDisease favors warm, moist soils

Pythium soft rot

SymptomsCauseScientific nameComments
Yellowing leaves; soft rotting of the underground stems (rhizomes)FungusPythium graminicolaDisease favors warm temperatures and high rainfall

Pythium myriotylum, responsible for a severe rhizome rot. Symphylids are wingless soil inhabiting arthropods which feed on root tips of the ginger plant and impair the plants´ ability to absorb nutrients thus seriously restricting plant growth and development.  Damage caused by symphylids to ginger roots is also expected to facilitate entry ofPythium into the plant.


Chinese rose beetle

SymptomsCauseScientific nameComments
Holes in leaves; entire leaf consumed with the exception of the leaf veinsInsectAdoretus sinicusAdult beetle red to brown in color

Root-knot nematode


SymptomsCauseScientific nameComments
Water soaked lesions on rootsNematodeMeloidogyne spp.

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