Galangal
Plant Size Guide
Galangal
Alpinia Galanga
days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant per 5 feet
sunlight requirements: 6-10 hours
look out for: needs very compost rich soil
harvest notes: harvest roots as you need them, plant is truly perennial
perennial
Galangal may look just like ginger, and while they are in the same family and grow very similarly Galangal is a more rare and unique flavoring herb. Galangal is a much woodier rhizome that has a sharp citrusy, almost piney flavor.
Galangal is only commonly used in Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian cooking, and instead of being grated or diced like the softer ginger root, it must be sliced, used and then removed from the dish before eating. Its most popular use is in the Thai soup “tom kha gai”, which is a sour coconut milk and chicken soup flavored with Galangal, lemongrass and Makrut lime leaves. The leaves can also be used in cooking, thrown into a pot of beans, curries or stews like one would with Bay leaf.
Galangal can also be used medicinally. Our herbalist, The Garden jules says: I think of Galangal as a warming catalyst in both cooking and herbal recipes, meaning it aids in circulation and helps assist other plants or herbs used in conjunction with it be more bio available and get everywhere they need to in the body. It’s also a powerful immune booster and anti-inflammatory herb. Rich in vitamins A and C, iron and sodium, this is a superb herb for hair, skin and nails and is a powerful blood cleansing herb. Try grating fresh Galangal and mixing with raw honey for a skin rejuvenating face mask. Its also a great antimicrobial and antibacterial plant. One can tincture fresh Galangal in a high proof alcohol or distilled white vinegar to use as a wound wash or homemade house cleaner respectively.
In Aryuvedic medicine, Galangal is used to relieve excess gas, cramping and constipation. Indonesians consume freshly grated Galangal with a pinch of salt on an empty stomach to relieve digestive issues. Known to reduce digestive acid secretion, Galangal soothes the GI tract and is especially helpful for those with stomach ulcers or acid reflux.
Plant and grow galangal as you would ginger or turmeric; in partly shaded well drained and rich soil. Galangal will get quite a bit taller than ginger, so make sure to space it properly, and unlike ginger & turmeric we typically leave a galangal patch in the ground for years and just use a sharp shovel to dig out what you need for cooking when you need it. If your patch is nice and happy it’ll also produce beautiful white flowers once a year.
Delivery Details
Delivery Details
When you place your order we head into our greenhouse to select the very best plants we have in stock for your garden. We label them with handwritten compostable wooden labels and pack them in recyclable boxes to keep them safe on their journey. Our delivery partners, Roadie, take it from there and head to the Redlands to pick up your order. Communication and tracking take place via Roadie and your driver will leave your plants in a safe and covered area.
Plant Care
Plant Care
When your plant delivery arrives, make sure you water your new plants thoroughly with a light spray of water (none of this thumb over the hose stuff). We recommend planting them within 10 days of receiving them. If you do intent to wait to plant them, we recommend placing them in a shallow reservoir (like a baking pan) and filling it with half an inch of water so they can drink the water from below while you are at work and place them in an area with plenty of sun. When planting in your garden always add a dash of Organic granular fertilizer, and give them extra water during their first week in their new home, while they adjust. We recommend disturbing the root ball as little as possible during planting.
About Our Plants
About Our Plants
All of our plants are grown in OMRI certified Organic materials (potting mix, fertilizer, seeds, etc.) and include Organic granular fertilizer, living locally-made compost, and have been cared for with healthy microorganisms from compost tea and microbial inoculants. We only use organic pesticides when needed. We only stock varieties that we have experience growing and that are season and climate appropriate for South Florida. Our curated inventory is simple enough for a beginner and interesting enough to keep an advanced gardeners attention, with new and rare varieties being added weekly.
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"Smooth, seamless experience. Professional packaging and delivery. I have two healthy plants... life is good."
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“Healthy foliage when this plant arrived, and pushed out a bloom less than two weeks after being planted. Excellent!”
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Two new names, one guiding vision; to empower people through food and ecology. For more information on our garden installation services visit the Little River Gardens website.