If you want to plant turmeric in your garden, you will want to know how to care for it properly.
You should plant it early in the spring and harvest it in the fall.
Learn how to harvest the rhizomes and keep them in a moderately warm, moist environment.
Turmeric is a herbaceous perennial plant that isn’t as hard to grow as most gardeners project it to be.
In fact, Turmeric can grow indoors in pots, as well as in raised beds. Talking about coming back year after year, here’s what I know:
Turmeric can be grown outdoors year-round in USDA zones 8 and higher. As a perennial plant, the tall, beautiful, and white flower spikes can thrive in unfavorable weather conditions, provided it’s left undisturbed.
Planting Turmeric in early spring
Turmeric plants can be grown in your garden. Plant the rhizomes in early spring, at least 10 months before the last frost date.
Plant the rhizomes in rows 3 to 4 inches apart and 6 to 8 inches apart. Do not cut the rhizomes too small; keep the nubs facing up. Turmeric will not grow well when the rhizomes are cut into pieces of a smaller size.
To start growing your turmeric plant, find a location that receives a moderate amount of sunlight.
Planting turmeric in the fall can be difficult, as the soil is usually too moist for this herb. To make it grow better, plant rhizomes in pots, and keep them watered and moist to prevent them from drying out. Ideally, turmeric plants should be planted in early spring, but can be grown year-round.
Once the danger of frost is over, plant your turmeric in the ground. It will start to grow once temperatures are 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
As the weather cools, cut back the rhizomes to the soil level. The roots will start growing when the temperature is at a comfortable level. But be sure to cover them with a sheet to protect them from the harsh weather. This way, your turmeric will grow back every year.
Harvesting Turmeric in fall
There are many benefits to harvesting turmeric in the fall. The soil will be slightly moister and the turmeric will be more productive.
Plant rhizomes in pots or in the ground. Place rhizomes 2-4 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart, with more space between pieces increasing yield. Turmeric needs frequent fertilization to thrive. Plant rhizomes in a moist, but not wet soil. Keep the soil moist but not too wet; too much moisture will cause the rhizomes to rot.
To harvest turmeric in the fall, make sure your plant is growing in cooler areas. You will want to dig up its roots in the fall, remove the leaves and store indoors until spring.
Fertilize the plant regularly, and don’t prune the turmeric plant. Remove any dead or dried leaves before harvest.
Harvesting turmeric in the fall is the best time to reap the benefits of this fragrant spice! But before you get started, it’s important to understand how turmeric plants grow.
The first frost will cause the leaves to turn yellow. Once the rhizome has become yellow, it’s time to harvest it.
Digging the rhizome is easy, and you should be able to dig it up with your hands.
Once you have harvested a small bundle, you can use it in cooking or as medicine. It’s not hard to harvest turmeric in the fall. And if you’re harvesting it for medicinal purposes, you can use the rhizomes for a variety of ailments.
Creating more seeds for Turmeric
Creating more seeds for turmeric is as easy as using the plant itself. You can grow turmeric from seed by crushing the dried root, then using food-safe gloves to remove the seedpods.
After planting the plant, you can use compost to improve drainage and fertility.
Turmeric grows best in a semi-shade area, with afternoon shade and morning sun. Creating more seeds for turmeric will allow you to enjoy fresh turmeric every season!
If you live in a temperate climate, you can plant the rhizomes of turmeric outdoors once the last frost has passed. If you live in a cooler climate, however, you must keep them indoors until the last frost. Once they sprout, they need bright light to thrive.
If you do not live in a warm area, you can purchase turmeric rhizomes from online retailers. They are inexpensive and are easy to grow.
Once the rhizomes have been harvested, wash them thoroughly. If you’re planting a large batch, use a hose sprayer to water them thoroughly.
For smaller batches, you can do this by hand. After they’re thoroughly washed, you can clip any small roots attached to the nodes.
Once dried, you can store them in airtight containers until they are ready to use. If you’re planning to replant your turmeric rhizomes, keep them fresh by following the steps below.
Keeping Turmeric rhizomes in a warm, moderately humid environment
To grow turmeric, keep rhizomes in a warm and moderately moist environment.
Watering is necessary during the active growing season, but less frequent watering during the dormant season reduces the risk of disease or rot.
The rhizomes will take months to sprout, so be sure to plant them in an area that has adequate drainage. Avoid planting turmeric in areas that have standing water.
To grow turmeric successfully, plant rhizomes in early spring or mid-summer. They need moderately moist soil and should be planted in full sunlight or partial shade.
Plant rhizomes about 2 feet apart. Keep the rhizomes in a sheltered location, but be sure to water them regularly during dry weather.
They need an acidic soil pH of six or less, and you should fertilize every two months or so with a balanced fertilizer. If the ground is extremely humid or too cold, add mulch year-round to prevent the roots from rotting.
After harvesting the rhizomes, rinse them thoroughly to remove dirt and keep them dry. You may have to trim off the odd long roots attached to the rhizomes.
You can then use them to cook, bake, or grill. They’re packed with antioxidants and nutrients. But they’re not quite as magical as the rhizome.
Sunlight isn’t a concern for turmeric rhizomes
While turmeric rhizomes can survive the winter months without sunlight, the resulting root system is sensitive to direct sunlight.
For this reason, it is best to keep turmeric plants indoors, where they will receive plenty of indirect light and be protected from harsh winds. Once the rhizomes have sprouted, sunlight isn’t a problem.
In the meantime, you can harvest small amounts of turmeric whenever you wish for a lower yield. However, it’s not a good idea to harvest turmeric rhizomes all at once as it may result in spoilage.
Turmeric is a tropical herb that is native to the tropical regions of Asia and is commonly grown for its bright yellow spice. Its roots are edible and can be used to spice food and as a natural dye. It grows well in warm, humid conditions and can tolerate a neutral pH.
However, sunlight should be limited if you want to avoid fading turmeric. You can grow turmeric in pots in your garden or container to save space.
When growing turmeric, rhizomes should be planted in containers at least eight to ten months before the winter. When temperatures in the winter are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s best to plant turmeric in the spring to avoid freezing.
Once the soil is warm enough, you can transplant the turmeric rhizomes outdoors when the weather is consistently over 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
You should mulch the soil with manure before transplanting turmeric. The best climate for turmeric growing is one where it gets plenty of sunlight but not too much.
Harvesting Turmeric in the tropics
There are several steps to harvest turmeric in the tropics. It needs to be planted as soon as it sprouts in moist soil. Turmeric needs more water in summer, while winters require less.
Once the plant is mature, harvesting begins at about seven to ten months.
If the weather is not ideal, turmeric plants can be transplanted to a larger pot or container for a longer harvest.
To harvest turmeric, remove the brown foliage from the plant. Then, shake off the soil. Once the plant dries, cut the stems and the outermost leaves.
Rinse the rhizomes well and store them in the refrigerator for 6 months or freeze them for longer storage. You can also save the rhizomes to replant next year.
This will ensure the plants are ready when the weather warms up.
Final thoughts
For harvesting turmeric, it is important to separate the rhizomes from the hands. First, cut off the tops of the plants.
This will allow you to easily access the underground rhizomes. You can then dig them up using a clean knife.
For each plant, you should be able to harvest a few pieces of the rhizomes. You can also plant some of the pieces in the fall.
Once you harvest them, you can use them for cooking, as well as for medicinal purposes.