ຂີງດຳ / Black Ginger

Propagation technique
Black ginger is grown in the same way as any other species of the ginger family. Growth starts at beginning of the rainy season and the leaves die back at the start of the dry season in Laos, leaving the rhizome underground. This is a good time for harvesting. Leaves return during the following rainy season. Farmers plant black ginger rhizomes at the beginning of the rainy season or if it rains 1–2 times in between January and May by cutting rhizomes. Quicklime is used to protect rhizomes against bacterial rot.
Soil preparing and clean land:
Soil should be plowed to deal with weeds. After about 1–2 weeks, powdered manure or other manure should be applied, using about 2–5 tons of composting material per 1600 m2, combined with chemical fertilizer formula: 15–15–15 at 30–50 kg per 1600 m2. Repeat plowing to mix the composted material with the soil and either make drills, 50–70 cm apart for planting, or make planting holes if preferred.
Planting technique:
Rhizome or rhizome branches should be about 10–12 months old. Planting holes is measured between rows and about 20 × 20 cm or 20 × 30 cm, using 2–5 clusters per hole by about 5–10 cm in diameter of hole, should not be overburdened, because making it easy to rotate. About 160–200 kg of rhizomes are planted per 1600 m2. For planting in pots, use soil mixed with manure or compost at a ratio of 2:1–3:1, using a suitable pot size for 1–2 rhizomes, such as 25–38 cm.