How to Grow Turmeric Indoors & Outdoors for a Year-Round Harvest

How to Grow Turmeric Indoors and Outdoors for Year-Round Harvests

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial plant grown for its deep orange, flavorful roots. When you know how to grow turmeric at home, you can enjoy the plant's delicious rhizomes, long, tropical-looking leaves, and beautiful white, yellow, or pink flowers. Fresh turmeric roots look similar in shape to ginger (a close relative), but they have a wrinkled skin and a bright orange interior. Here's what you need to know to grow this attractive and beneficial plant.

Where to Grow Turmeric?

Turmeric is a tropical plant that requires a long, warm growing season in USDA hardiness zones 8 and warmer to grow best outdoors. It is native to southwestern India, where the climate is humid and temperatures typically range from 65°F to 85°F. However, it can grow in zone 7 and can be grown as an annual by pre-germinating plants indoors and then transplanting them outdoors when the weather warms up.

How and When to Grow Turmeric

In warm climates, plant turmeric roots in early spring, 2-3 inches deep and 6-8 inches apart, with the buds pointing upward.

In colder climates, you need to pre-plant the roots indoors. When the turmeric plant reaches 8 inches in height, transplant it to a larger pot that can accommodate several plants. Grow it indoors in a sunny room with a temperature of at least 68°F. When the outdoor temperature reaches 68°F, container-grown plants can be moved outdoors.

Turmeric Care Tips

Turmeric is easy to grow in warm, humid climates. Water the plant well and then place it in a warm location according to the following instructions.

Light

Turmeric grows best in full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon.

Soil and Water

Turmeric grows best in organically rich, fertile, consistently moist but well-drained soil that is slightly acidic with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Add a 1 to 2-inch layer of compost about once a month while the turmeric is growing. This plant requires consistent moisture, so keep the soil moist but not waterlogged until the roots sprout. Once turmeric begins to grow actively, water it frequently. Don't let the soil dry out completely, but don't water it too much. If you're growing turmeric in containers, use a self-watering container to avoid overwatering.

Temperature and Humidity

Turmeric plants love hot summers and high humidity. Plants grown outdoors in zones 8-11 need moist summer growth followed by a dormant winter season. If you live in an area with low humidity, mist the plants to maintain moisture. In colder climates, turmeric needs to be pre-germinated indoors and kept at 68°F or higher.

Fertilizer

After the first sprouts appear, feed turmeric plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season, following the product's instructions.

Planting and Repotting

Turmeric can be grown in pots. Although your local plant nursery may not carry these plants, some online plant nurseries do. Repot them in a slightly larger pot with well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Place them in a sunny location with a temperature of at least 68°F.

After a few years, the soil may need to be replenished. The best time to repot turmeric is in late winter. Lift the plant from the pot, but do not remove the soil from the roots. Fill the container with fresh potting mix and then plant the turmeric at the same level it was growing at previously.

Problems and Pests

Keeping the soil around your turmeric plant consistently moist helps prevent spider mites. If slugs and snails try to attack the young leaves of your plant, remove them by hand, place them in a bowl of soapy water, and discard them.

How to Propagate Turmeric

To propagate turmeric, follow these simple steps:

Cut off a thick section of the turmeric rhizome containing a small, round bud or eye (organic turmeric from the grocery store is fine).

• Fill a 3.5-inch pot with drainage holes with potting soil.
• Plant the round bud about 2 inches below the soil surface.
• Place the pot on a heating mat set to 86°F and water the soil thoroughly.
• Once the roots have sprouted, place the plant in a sunny location with a temperature of at least 68°F.
• Transplant to a larger pot if necessary.

Turmeric Harvesting Tips

The boiled, dried, and ground roots are the source of the bright yellow-orange ground spice known as turmeric. This member of the ginger family has long been used to impart a slightly bitter, earthy flavor to curries and a bright yellow color to foods like mustard. It is also used in the production of cosmetics and dyes for clothing and carpets.

Harvest turmeric when the leaves begin to turn yellow and die, or before the first frost in your area. Dig the roots from the soil with your hands and then cut off the leaves. The roots are usually harvested in the fall, but some early varieties are ready to harvest by summer. Save some roots for use and some for replanting in the spring.

Turmeric Varieties

The aboveground parts may not look much different, but turmeric varieties can vary in the flavor of their roots.

Hawaiian Red Turmeric

"Hawaiian Red" turmeric is organically grown in Hawaii. This is the type of turmeric commonly sold in American grocery stores. It is used as an orange dye and is included in many blended spices.

Turmeric 'Alleppey'

"Alleppey" turmeric is named after the Indian city of Alleppey. The rich yellow color and intense flavor of this high-quality curcumin are ideal for making high-quality curry powders and supplements. It contains a higher percentage of volatile oil and curcumin than "Madras" turmeric.

"Madras" Turmeric

"Madras" is the preferred turmeric in the UK and the Middle East. It is characterized by its bright, intense yellow color and is commonly used in mustard paste and curry powder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it permissible to eat the leaves of the turmeric plant?

Turmeric leaves are edible. Adding a few turmeric leaves to a dish can enhance the overall flavor of the food. Plus, you won't have to worry about the leaves staining your clothes.

Is it permissible to eat turmeric raw?

You can eat turmeric raw. Peel and grate the fresh roots and add them to your favorite dishes—just as you would grate fresh ginger. Remember that the flavor of fresh turmeric is stronger than that of powdered turmeric.