Maturity and Quality
No specific maturity standards have been developed for these flowers. They are normally harvested when all flowers on the spike are open. Make sure flowers do not exhibit chill damage symptoms such as off-colored (grayish/bluish) blooms.
Grading and Bunching. There are no specific grade standards for gingers. Proper maturity and freedom from flower and foliage defects would be important indicators of quality. Gingers are large flowers and are therefore normally packed individually. Some species may be individually sleeved to protect the delicate petals.
Postharvest Handling and Storage
Store at 12.5-15°C. Gingers are chilling sensitive, so they must be held at warmer temperatures.
These flowers do not appear to be particularly sensitive to ethylene.
Pretreatments
There is no evidence that pre-treatments provide any benefit to ginger flowers.
Packing
Gingers are packed flat in standard or insulated fiberboard boxes.
Special Considerations
Their large size makes them difficult to manage. Since insects sometimes make the trip from the grower, wholesaler to retailer, make sure flowers are inspected and any insects removed.
Disorders
Description
Alpinia zerumbet, Alpinia purpurata. The ginger flowers represent a range of species and genera from the tropics that include the plants producing the edible ginger rhizome. One of the common lei flowers used in Hawaii is white ginger. Torch ginger flowers are spectacular spikes of red flowers that give an especially tropical impact in arrangements. The genus is named after the Italian botanist Prosper Alpinus.