How to Grow Turmeric Herb Plants

About Growing Turmeric Plants in Your Herb Garden

Turmeric plants are tropical herbs. It is grown for its rhizome or root. Turmeric herb is a pungent, yellow spice. Closely related to the ginger family, Turmeric is native to South and Southeast Asia, where it has been used for thousands of years for both culinary and medicinal purposes. When growing Turmeric, place this tall plant at the back of your herb garden.

Note: While Turmeric is grown primarily for its roots, the leaves and flowers are also edible.

Turmeric has attractive foliage and is easy to grow. This plant grows up to 4 feet tall. The root has a rich, deep orange color. The plants need a 7 to 10-month frost-free growing period to produce a good crop of roots for harvesting. The plant produces beautiful, large flowers.

Did You Know? Turmeric is also called “Indian Saffron”, as it is sometimes used in recipes as a replacement for the more expensive Saffron.

Medicinal and Culinary Uses

Medicinal Uses:

There are a wide variety of medicinal applications, including:

Anti-inflammatory
Liver disease
Cystic fibrosis
Gastric ulcer
Cancer of the breast, prostate, and intestines
Lowers Cholesterol
Arthritis
Joint pain

Culinary Uses:

Turmeric is one of the world’s healthiest foods. It is very popular in Indian and Thai cuisine.

Tea Time Anyone? To make a healthy Turmeric Tea, simmer 2 teaspoons of turmeric in 4 cups of water for 10 minutes, then strain the tea through a cheesecloth. You can add lemon honey or stevia for flavoring and sweetening.

Other Uses:

It is also used as a cosmetic, most notably skin lightening.

Nutritional Value

100 g of dried, ground Turmeric contains approximately:

354 calories
64.9 g carbs
0 cholesterol
9.9 g fat
21 g fiber
7.8 g protein
38 mg sodium

Turmeric Plant Growing Specifications

Flowers Bloom: Summer

Flower Colors: Burgundy, pink, white, yellow-green, and bicolor.

Days to Harvest: 7 to 10 months, depending upon growing conditions.

Plant Height: Most varieties grow three to four feet tall. A few varieties can grow up to seven feet tall.

Light Needs: A mix of Full sunlight and partial shade.

Ideal Soil pH: 5.5– 7.5.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 – 11.

Ideal Growing Temperature Range: This warm-weather plant grows best at 70 to 95° F.

Plant Type: Perennial.

Number of Varieties: 40 45.

Native To: Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Botanical Name: Curcuma longa

Other Names: Indian Saffron.

How to Propagate Turmeric Plants

Turmeric is grown from rhizomes (roots). You can start them indoors, in a large container or pot. You can also plant them directly into the garden in zone 9 or warmer. Cut the roots, leaving 2 to 3 buds on each piece. Plant the piece of rhizome 2 to 3 inches deep, with the bud pointed up, on top of the rhizome. The plants will sprout in about a month.

If started indoors, transplant them after the last frost. Space plants 12 to 16 inches apart.

Note: You can also grow the plant in a container or pot indoors, or on your patio or deck. Use a 14-inch or larger container.

The flowers on the plants will not produce seeds.

Final Plant Spacing: Space seedlings, or thin plants 3 to 4 feet apart.

Days to Maturity: 7 to 10 months

How to Grow Turmeric Herb Plants

Planting and Soil Needs

While Turmeric plants are easy to grow, they need a long, 7-10 month growing season to produce roots big enough to harvest. They grow best in hot and humid tropical areas with plenty of rainfall, similar to their native area. Importantly, the low temperature should not go below 65° Fahrenheit.

Plant them in a location that receives indirect sunlight for most or all of the day. The plants prefer moist, not wet soil that is well-drained.

The soil should be rich with plenty of nutrients. Before planting them, mix plenty of compost and well-rotted manure into the planting site. Also apply a balanced, general-purpose fertilizer for a quick start.

Light Requirement

Turmeric plants have picky light needs. First, they need six to eight hours of bright, indirect sunlight. That allows the plant to produce enough energy to grow the roots over a long growing season. But, they suffer in the extremes of too much or too little sunlight. So, select a location in your garden that will provide the plant with indirect light, but not bright sunlight or deep shade.

Fertilizer Needs

Turmeric plants perform best in rich soil. Use a balanced, general-purpose fertilizer on a regular basis. Apply the first application early in the spring. Then, reapply fertilizer every four to six weeks. If they are grown in average or poor soils, apply a little more frequently.

If the leaves begin to pale between fertilizer applications you can also apply a liquid fertilizer to both the leaves and the base of the plant.

Water Needs

Turmeric plants need a regular supply of water. Hence, keep the soil moist, but not wet during the entire growing season. The plants suffer root rot in prolonged periods of wet or soggy soil. Thus, it is important to monitor the moisture level and provide good drainage.

Other Steps

Weeds rob valuable water and soil nutrients. Therefore, keep young Turmeric plants well-weeded. Then, after they have grown several inches, apply a layer of mulch. This helps to retain soil moisture and gives the plant a neat and tidy appearance.

Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged leaves and plants.

Insect and Plant Disease Problems

Turmeric plants are seldom bothered by insects or plant disease.

On occasion, aphids or spider mites may infest the plants. Use insecticides only as needed.

Leaf spots may occur. This is a fungal infection that can be treated with an organic fungicide.

Avoid root rot by using loose, well-draining soil. Increase drainage, as needed. Before planting, elevate the soil.

Also see: Plant Problems – causes and cures

Harvesting and Drying Turmeric Leaves

As previously mentioned, Turmeric plants need a 7 to 10 month growing season to allow them to produce a good crop of roots. Harvest the roots when the plant’s leaves and stems being to turn brown and dry-looking.

Boil Turmeric roots for 45 minutes. Next, dry and peel them. Then, ground the roots into a fine yellow powder. They can be sun-dried, or with a food dehydrator. Use Turmeric powder as a spice, or as a medicine.

Store raw roots can for up to 6 months in the refrigerator, or a cool, dark place.