Detailed Guide to Late-Stage Management of Ginger Growth
After the Start of Autumn, the weather turns cool and ginger enters the period of rapid tuber enlargement. During this period, ginger has a high demand for water and fertilizer, and pests and diseases occur more frequently, making it also a critical time for prevention and control. In production, the following five aspects should be prioritized.
1. Water frequently. Ginger prefers moisture and is not drought-tolerant, so it is generally advisable to water after shallow hoeing and loosening the soil. If drought occurs, the number of waterings should be increased, but flooding irrigation must not be used. September is the best period for ginger rhizome growth, and the demand for water is noticeably higher. Watering once every 7-10 days is advisable, and watering should be reduced when there is more rain. Watering should preferably be done in the morning and evening, and not at noon.
2. Apply complete topdressing. Ginger has a long growth period and requires a large amount of fertilizer, especially in the middle and late stages, when fertilizer demand accounts for about 80% of the entire growth period. In early to mid-September, when ginger seedlings have 6-8 branches, this is the period of rapid rhizome enlargement. Topdressing may be carried out as appropriate according to plant growth, which is called "supplementary fertilizer." On the one hand, this topdressing promotes lush stems and leaves and rapid rhizome enlargement; on the other hand, it can prevent fertilizer deficiency in the late growth stage, which would cause early senescence of stems and leaves and affect yield. Generally, apply 20 kg of nitrogen-potassium fertilizer per mu. Along with topdressing, promptly supplement microfertilizers such as boron fertilizer and zinc fertilizer. Generally, apply 2 kg of zinc sulfate and 1 kg of borax per mu, which plays a very important role in improving ginger yield and quality. For plots showing fertilizer deficiency, spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate twice on the leaves can significantly increase late-stage yield.
3. Earth up frequently. Because ginger rhizome growth requires a dark environmental condition, earthing up should be done multiple times. Generally, earth up 2-3 times. The first earthing up is done at the time of major topdressing, and it is suitable to cover the farmyard manure with soil, but it should not be too thick, so as not to affect the growth of later emerging seedlings. After 15 days, carry out the second and third earthing up. The final earthing up should form a ridge, and the rhizomes must not be exposed above the ground.
4. Prevent diseases and control pests. Ginger blast is a devastating disease in ginger production and also a major factor affecting ginger yield, so comprehensive control measures should be the main approach. Crop rotation can be used; drainage ditches can be dug for drainage and waterlogging prevention; or chemical control can be used, with 1500-2000 times diluted solutions of ginger blast control agents such as Shengjiangbao, Jiangwensan, and Luba used to drench the roots. When severely diseased plants are found, they should be pulled out promptly and marked with lime. After the ginger is harvested, the soil in that spot should be deeply buried for treatment. The main pests include ginger stem borers, beet armyworm, and ginger thrips. Regular pest surveys should be carried out, and chemical control should be done before major pest outbreaks. Pyrethroid pesticides and imidacloprid and other agents can be mixed and sprayed for control, with spraying once every 7-10 days.
5. Harvest at the right time. In the central part of our province, the best harvest period for ginger should be between October 20 and 25. In the southern part of our province, it may be appropriately delayed by 3-5 days, while the eastern Hebei production area may harvest about 1 week earlier. Harvesting ginger at this time will neither freeze the ginger tubers nor fail to make full use of the golden period of late-stage yield increase. Therefore, the optimal harvest timing must be grasped, and harvesting too early must be avoided. To facilitate storage and nutrient return flow, about 3 cm of stem can be left to promote nutrient return. The timing of selling can be flexibly determined according to market conditions. Wang Hu