Why Hasn't My Ginger Developed Well?

Did the lower leaves exhibit yellow tips followed by complete yellowing?

Is the plant growth stunted, leaves and stems are yellow, brown discoloration of water-conducting tissue within stem is present?

Do the leaves have "shot-hole" appearance, some leaves could have been skeletonized?

Are there any water-soaked lesions on roots, and galls on roots which can be up to 1 inch in diameter?

If your plant has yellow leaves and dies early the most likely cause is a fungal disease - Dry rot. There is no cure for dry rot, so the infected plants should be removed and destroyed. You should not replant new rhizomes in the same soil. Prevent dry rot by planting rhizomes in well-drained soil. Treating seed with Bordeaux mixture before planting and solarizing the soil can help to reduce the incidence of the disease.

These symptoms could indicate Rhizome rot, Soft rot, or Pythium rot diseases. Diseases favor warm, moist soils and are spread primarily through the use of infected seed pieces which may not show any outward signs of sickness. Plant ginger in well-draining soils or on hills created by tilling. Do not plant any seed pieces which show symptoms of the disease. seed can be treated with hot water (122°F for 10 min) or appropriate fungicides before planting. Destroy all crop debris after harvest.

Chinese rose beetle is known to attack ginger leaves. These insects are nocturnal. Chinese rose beetles are attracted to dim light and repelled by bright light, shining bright light on plants may help deter them from feeding. Covering young plants with floating row covers can help to protect plants until they are old enough to withstand attacks by the beetle.

These symptoms usually indicate root-knot nematodes. Other symptoms include plants wilting during bright, hot days. Prevent root-knot nematodes by applying chitin or introducing parasitic nematodes to the soil before planting. Solarizing the soil also helps in preventing root-knot nematodes.

If the whole plant suddenly droops, from the bottom to the top, turning yellow, the most likely cause is a disease - Bacterial wilt. Destroy infected plants immediately. Plant ginger in well-draining soils where ginger had not previously been grown. Plant the only pathogen-free seed. Plant ginger on hills to aid soil drainage and promote airflow around the rhizome. Rotate ginger with non-hosts of bacterial wilt.