When Kerala farmer Omana Devasya planted ginger in a few grow bags a couple of years ago, she was just experimenting with a method she had learnt during a farming workshop.

She had no idea that the humble spice would become one of the most rewarding crops in her garden. Season after season, her harvests grew larger. Some of her grow bags produced up to 4.5 kg of ginger, proving that a generous harvest does not require acres of farmland.

Her success comes down to a few simple practices, one of the most important being timing.

For gardeners across India, the weeks before the heavy monsoon arrive offer the perfect opportunity to plant ginger. Warm temperatures, increasing humidity and the promise of regular rainfall create ideal conditions for the crop to establish itself. By the time the rains are in full swing, the plants are already settled in and ready to grow abundantly.

The best part is that ginger is extremely forgiving. Whether you have a backyard, terrace or a sunny corner on a balcony, it can survive in containers with very little fuss.

Ginger loves moisture, but it does not enjoy sitting in waterlogged soil. Planting before the monsoon allows the rhizomes to develop roots while the soil remains warm and well........

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