Comparison of High Tunnel and Field Grown Ginger Roots for Yield and Quality in Southern Virginia

Nationally consumer demand for locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables are on the rise. In addition, consumers in the U.S are also considering food products with recognized health benefits. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has numerous health benefits and is widely accepted in the American food market. In 2009, the United States imported approximately of 42,000 metric tons of ginger with a total value of 37.2 million dollars. The consumer demand for locally grown ginger is on the rise and many farmers are taking advantage of the higher prices. While most ginger is grown in high tunnels, no information is available about field grown ginger or comparing ginger production under field to high tunnel conditions. An experiment was conducted to compare the yield and quality of field grown ginger with that of ginger grown under high tunnel conditions. The results showed that ginger can be grown under field conditions in Southern Virginia, however ginger grown in a high tunnel produced higher yield. High tunnel produced ginger averaged 2074 grams per plant in comparison to 866 grams per plant for the field grown ginger. The high tunnel also extended the ginger harvest period from October 8^th to December 5^th in comparison to October 8^th to October 31^th for ginger grown in the field.