How to Grow Galangals

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Propagation	0	PFAF (tropical): propagate by rhizome division as new growth begins -- described as "very easy," with shoots emerging about a week after planting and 2-3 leaves developing within 4 weeks. Seed can also be sown as soon as it is ripe, at around 20°C.
Clump growth and flowering	6	MOBOT: forms a clump of stalks up to 6ft tall with long green leaves. PFAF (tropical): flowers and young shoots can be eaten raw, steamed, or used as a spice as they develop.
Rhizome harvest	8	PFAF (tropical): dig rhizomes for culinary use once they reach best quality, about 3 months after planting; rhizomes intended for medicinal use are instead left to mature for 4-6 years.

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Drainage	Well-drained, humus-rich soil (PFAF tropical); MOBOT: moist, fertile, organically rich, well-drained soil; PFAF pH 5.5-6.5, tolerating 5-6.8.
Lifecycle	Missouri Botanical Garden: a tropical evergreen perennial, winter hardy only to USDA zones 11-12. PFAF (tropical): does not tolerate temperatures below 15°C, thriving at 27-32°C.
Edible parts	rhizome, flowers, shoots, fruits

At a Glance

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: PFAF (tropical): the rhizome reaches its best culinary quality just 3 months after planting; roots intended for medicinal use are instead left to grow for 4-6 years before harvest.

Storage

Use rhizomes fresh, or dry them for longer storage as a flavouring; fresh rhizome keeps best refrigerated, similar to fresh ginger.

Diseases

Galangal leaf spot (causal agent not yet confirmed)

MOBOT: fungal leaf spot may occur; no causal species named, so kept as a generic entry.

Root rot (unspecified)

MOBOT: root rot may occur, particularly in poorly-drained conditions.

Pests

Glasshouse red spider mite (two-spotted spider mite)

Tetranychus urticae

Sources

1. Missouri Botanical Garden (Plant Finder) - Alpinia galanga (galangal, Siamese ginger, Thai ginger)

   Hardiness: winter hardy to USDA zones 11-12. Care: best grown in moist, fertile, organically rich, well-drained soil in part shade, tolerates close to full sun. Size: grows to 6ft tall in a clump of stalks, leaves 12-15in long by 2-3in wide. Pests/diseases: fungal leaf spot and root rot may occur; spider mites may appear in dry weather. Used as tier-1 substitute for RHS, whose Alpinia galanga page carries no cultivation content at all.

2. PFAF -- Useful Tropical Plants (tropical.theferns.info) - Alpinia galanga

   Habitat: forests, scrub and grasslands, 100-1300m elevation, China/Indo-China/India/Malaysia. Climate: minimum temperature 15°C, optimal 27-32°C, tolerates 20-36°C; prefers 2,500-3,000mm annual rainfall, tolerates 2,000-3,700mm; high humidity preferred. Soil: pH 5.5-6.5 (tolerates 5-6.8), well-drained humus-rich soil; partial shade preferred but succeeds in full sun; tolerates some drought. Size: robust perennial, large clumps 2-3.5m tall, subterranean creeping copiously-branched rhizome, light red or pale yellow rhizomes 2-4cm diameter. Propagation: seed sown as soon as ripe at around 20°C; or rhizome division as new growth begins (very easy -- shoots emerge about 1 week after planting, 2-3 leaves within 4 weeks). Harvest: rhizome reaches best quality 3 months after planting; medicinal roots harvested from plants 4-6 years old. Edible use: rhizomes fresh or dried as flavouring, strong pungent taste like pepper and ginger combined; flowers and young shoots eaten raw, steamed, or as spice; fruits edible as a cardamom substitute. Medicinal use: rhizome is aphrodisiac, aromatic, bitter, digestive, expectorant -- used for indigestion, colic, dysentery, skin diseases, respiratory conditions and infections; applied to carious teeth for toothache relief. No known hazards listed.

These 2 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 2 sources behind this guide (Missouri Botanical Garden (Plant Finder), PFAF -- Useful Tropical Plants (tropical.theferns.info)) is in the references of our UK guide to galangal; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.