You may not know this, but growing turmeric at home is possible and actually fairly easy. Originating from Southeast Asia, turmeric can be grown from its rhizome, just like ginger. If it grows readily in a garden or on a balcony, a simple windowsill can also suffice for its cultivation.
How to plant turmeric in a pot or in the garden?
Turmeric planting can be done between February and May. But beware, there are several turmeric species, some ornamental, sold in garden centers.
To make your growing succeed and to take full advantage of its benefits, you should choose Curcuma longa. You’ll easily find rhizomes in Asian grocery stores, and also in organic/health food shops.
Starting turmeric cultivation
Starting a turmeric grow is as simple as can be: just place the rhizomes in a small dish filled with water. But be careful—the rhizome shouldn’t be fully submerged; it should rest on a shallow water layer. Soon, roots and shoots will appear, and that’s when you’ll repot.
You can also opt to germinate your rhizomes in a pot filled with potting soil, but you must be careful not to overwater, or the planting may rot. Once repotted, the turmeric plant will need a lot of water, so remember to water it regularly.
Planting turmeric in the garden
If you’d like to grow turmeric in your garden, that’s possible too. Start by germinating your rhizomes in February and wait for the last frost before planting them in the ground.
Choose a partly shaded spot with rich soil. Regular watering is also necessary. Like in a pot, you’ll need to dig up the plant when it has dried out in order to harvest, and set aside some rhizomes to dry for next year.
Storing rhizomes during the dormancy period
Indeed, after its growing cycle, the plant will enter a dormancy period, typically around October or November. As the leaves begin to dry, it’s important to gradually reduce watering until you stop completely.
When turmeric goes dormant, that’s the moment to dig it up for the harvest. Then keep the remaining rhizomes in a dry pot to renew your planting the following year.
How to consume it?
Turmeric can be eaten fresh, simply by grating the rhizomes as needed. It will keep in the refrigerator for a few days. However, to preserve it longer and make it easier to use, it’s better to turn it into powder.
Making turmeric powder
To do this, boil the rhizomes for about 30 minutes, remove the skin, slice them into thin pieces, then dry them in the air, in the sun, or in a dehydrator. Once they’re dry, simply ground the turmeric into powder using a blender or a coffee grinder.
Then store it in an airtight glass jar, away from moisture, heat, and light.
Article republished
