2019 ASHS Annual Conference

In Hawai‘i, the primary limiting factor for the commercial production of ginger (Zingiber officionale) is the soil-borne disease known as bacterial wilt (caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) which has led to up to 60% of crop loss. Growing ginger in pots kept off the ground, using soil-less media, can prevent plants from becoming diseased. However, there is a higher cost of production as compared growing ginger in the field, because of this, producers are marketing their ginger as a source of seed. Organically produced seed can demand a higher price in the market. Preliminary results comparing fertilizer treatments including turkey manure and bone meal to a conventional slow release fertilizer were examined and found to produce comparable yields of ginger when grown in pots using peat moss and pearlite as media and planting disease tested ginger seed.