What are the characteristics of being able to harvest for ginger plants?

Harvesting is the activity of taking results in the form of rhizomes by dismantling the entire rhizome using a fork and or a hoe.

Harvest Characteristics (Basic Information)

• Harvest for consumption is done when the ginger rhizomes are 6-10 months old, while the seeds are harvested when the rhizomes are at least 8 months old;
• The characteristics of ready-to-harvest rhizomes:
• The color of the leaves changes from green to yellow and the stems all dry up;
• Rhizome skin tight and not easily peeled off / not easily blistered;
• When broken, fibrous and rhizome aroma;
• Rhizome color is more shiny and looks pithy;
• Based on trade standards, the quality of fresh ginger rhizome is categorized as follows:
• Quality I: weight 250 gram / rhizome, skin does not exfoliate, does not contain foreign objects and molds
• Second quality: weight 150-249 grams / rhizome, skin does not exfoliate, does not contain foreign objects and molds
• Quality III: weight according to the results of the analysis, 10% maximum peeled skin, 3% maximum foreign matter, 10% maximum mold.

Image of Rhizome being Harvested

Ginger Rhizome Harvesting Pictures

Work procedures of Harvest

1. For elephant ginger, do the harvesting when the plants are 6-10 months old;
2. For emprit ginger and red ginger harvest after all the leaves have fallen;
3. Harvesting seeds should be done at the age of at least 8 months (applies to elephant ginger, emprit ginger and red ginger);
4. Harvest carefully using a fork / hoe, harvest not by pulling it out and trying not to hurt the ginger rhizome;
5. Clean the clumps of ginger from the roots, soil and stems of the plant;