It should help with a fever and a cold, but must also be tasty in a saucepan: ginger is a sought-after plant. So far, the tuber is cultivated in Asia and South America, but that will change. In Bamberg, ginger from Bavaria is being researched. Ginger can also thrive in Franconia. This is shown by experiments of the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture (LWG) in Bamberg, which has grown the exotic tuber for the first time this year, under film. The result is a high quality product, says test engineer Birgit Rascher.
Ginger from FranconiaGinger is usually grown in India, Indonesia, China, South America, but also in the Fiji Islands. Last year, the Institute had exclusively grown ginger in a heated greenhouse. The young plants there demanded a temperature of 20 degrees and a humidity of 70 percent, simulating a tropical or subtropical environment with plenty of heat and a high humidity.
In the end, the staff of the research institute harvested 750 kilograms of the tuber. Part of this yield was sold and the rest was distributed, partly as a small Christmas gift, Rascher reported.
In parallel, ginger was planted under film only - ie without additional heating. This option requires far less energy. In the coming year, these specific experiments will continue, Rascher announced.
Further research on fertilizer and water requirements
The research team intends to further look at fertilizer and water requirements. So far, the amount of moisture and fertilizer would have been based on the values from the actual cultivation countries.
For the soils in the greenhouse, ginger is a good variety. Just as in open field cultivation, crop rotation under glass is important, in order to keep the soil fertile. In addition to this, ginger is a product that has already been well-established and is always well received by the consumer.
That is why these cultivation trials are ongoing. Ginger is considered an important ingredient in the kitchen, but it has significant medicinal properties as well.
Source: Infranken.de