Turmeric is a tropical plant in the ginger family that has been cultivated for over 4,000 years!

Turmeric grows to about 90 centimeters in height with large leaves, about 90 centimeters long and around 40 centimeters wide. The leaves are dark green on top and light green underneath.

During the summer, the turmeric plant may bloom with pale pink or white, tulip-like flowers that grow out of the foliage.

The rhizomes are the most sought after and can be used fresh or dried. Fresh turmeric has a much better taste than dried. It is from this rhizome that the golden turmeric powder comes from.

Botanical description

Curcuma longa is native to India and Southeast Asia. Turmeric is a member of the Zingiberaceae (ginger family) family and has a similar growth habit to ginger with underground rhizomes that are technically not roots but underground stems.

The plant has been cultivated for thousands of years in this region for use as a spice, a yellowish color for food, and an ingredient in traditional medicine. The Romans introduced turmeric from Asia to Europe in the first century AD.

Care

Turmeric requires an 8-10 month frost-free growing season from planting to harvest. Since this is difficult to achieve outdoors, it should be grown indoors.

Place in bright, indirect light or partial shade. The plant tolerates more shade than most vegetables and thrives in dappled sun. This allows it to withstand the limited light we sometimes have indoors.

Keep the soil evenly moist but not wet. Use well-drained, nutrient-rich soil mixed with compost. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer at planting and switch to a nitrogen-rich fertilizer during the growth phase. When the rhizomes form in the fall, use a potassium-rich fertilizer.

Harvest when the leaves start to turn yellow and dry, usually 8-10 months after planting. Carefully dig up the rhizomes and save some for next season's planting. Buy Turmeric Plant Online!