"K" wrote in message
news
"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" writes


The rhizomes from the supermarket only seem to produce quite small
(1foot )
plants and do not seem to bulk up particularly well, hence my question
about
the commercial variety.
Cautleya spicata , Hedychium forrestii and H.gardnerianum are three that I
am growing.
The forrestii was about six feet tall but the wind snapped the top off
today.
Although I am fairly confident about overwintering the two Hedychium I
don't
think they would make much growth in the short growing season.
The best technique is to start the rhizomes off very early in the year on
a
heated mat/bench and plant out when they have made good growth (the same
technique for Canna )
It will be interesting to see if I get flowers before the first frosts.


Usher "Plants Used by Man"

H.coronarium - possible source of paper pulp
H longicornutum - decoction of the roots used locally to treat ear-ache
H spicatum - rhizome used in some parts of tropical Asia in the
manufacture of perfume

No mention of cautleya

Commcial ginger in Zingiber officinale

--
Kay

I have checked the three I am growing and I seem to remember getting them
because they are the most hardy.
Had a good perusal of Zingiber officinale (thanks) and it looks as if there
is more than one-but none of them form massive plants so perhaps my previous
efforts have not been too bad.
Any road, if all else fails I can make paper, perfumed tissues and stuff
them in my ears. They probably won't cure ear-ache but it will give folk a
good laugh.