Turmeric, Curcuma Longa

For maximum health benefits and organic untainted roots; grow your own turmeric, it’s so easy!

In a frost-free climate choose a spot outside in full sun or semi-shade. They are perfect understory plants for a food-forest. While turmeric plants prefer well-drained soil they did reliably grow in our clay-pit garden. I find that turmeric is more adaptable to crappy soil conditions than ginger. Turmeric plants like regular water.

As with any root crop, don’t give too much nitrogen otherwise you will grow many leaves and little roots.

I believe that turmeric plants are perfectly good for the front garden if you like a tropical look. Turmeric plants grow to 1-1.5 meters, but in our temperate climate, they reach about 70 cm before harvesting in autumn. They are herbaceous perennials meaning that the plant dies down in winter and comes back in spring.

If you live in a colder climate, you can grow turmeric in a container and bring it inside in winter.

With all the health craze about turmeric, I don’t think that I have to write how to use the plant other than that it might be a good idea to grow all your basic herb needs.