How to Grow Turmeric Plants

 

The scientific name of Turmeric plant is Curcuma longa and the plant is actually a tropical perennial plant that is grown for its edible, deep orange-yellow rhizomes that add flavor, color, and nutritional value to a wide variety of dishes. The Turmeric rhizomes, which are often referred to as the turmeric roots, are used fresh or dried and ground as a spice. The Turmeric plant is in the same plant family as ginger. While it is primarily grown for culinary purposes, the canna-like flowers make turmeric an attractive foliage plant. If the Turmeric plant is grown in ideal conditions, the plant will produces flower stems with showy bracts in late summer. Turmeric is actually planted in the spring.

Turmeric plant Info

The common name: The common names are Turmeric, common turmeric, turmeric root.

The botanical name: The botanical name is   Curcuma longa.

The family: Turmeric plants belong to Zingiberaceae family.

The plant type:   Turmeric plant is an herbaceous perennial plant.

The mature size: The mature size is about three to four feet tall, three to four feet wide.

The sun exposure: Turmeric plants prefer full sun, partial sun.

The soil type: Turmeric plant does well in a moist, well-drained soil.

The soil pH: Acidic neutral, alkaline

The blooming time: The blooming time is summer.

USDA hardiness zones: eight to eleven.

The native area: Turmeric plants are native to Asia. 

Turmeric varieties

There are different varieties of Turmeric. The following are the different varieties of Turmeric:

-         The Duggirala Red variety: The Duggirala Red variety is a high yielding variety, the Rhizomes are actually long, plumpy, strong and they are very deep orange in color.

-         The IISR – Kedaram variety: The IISR – Kedaram variety is suitable for growing throughout India.

-         The Megha variety: The Megha variety is a high curcumin content and bold rhizomes, the Megha variety is suitable for North east hill region and North west Bengal.

-         The Rajendra Sonali variety: The Rajendra Sonali variety is moderate resistant against leaf spot and leaf blotch.

-         The Rajendra Sonia variety: The Rajendra Sonia variety has bold and plumpy rhizome.

-         The Roma variety: The Roma variety is suitable for growing in Orissa, Andhra and Tamilnadu. 

How to Plant Turmeric

When to Plant Turmeric

Whether you can grow the turmeric plant outdoors or you need to start it indoors depends on your location. The outdoor planting is actually possible if your climate offers the ten month time window of warm weather that turmeric plant needs to mature in the fall. To plant turmeric, the soil should be consistently fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit or higher and the air temperature around seventy degrees Fahrenheit. In a mild climate, plant the turmeric in the late winter or early spring once the temperature hits that mark. Otherwise, start to sprout the turmeric plant indoors around the same time.

Selecting a planting site

Make sure you choose a site in full sun or partial shade with loamy, well-draining soil. In southern locations, a garden spot that has morning sun and some afternoon shade is preferable for planting Turmeric.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

If the Turmeric rhizomes look dry and shriveled, you can soak them in tepid water for twenty-four hours.

Cut the large Turmeric rhizomes with many buds into one to three inch pieces so that each piece has at least 2 to 3 buds. Plant the pieces about two inches deep with the buds pointing up and spacing them three to four feet apart.

Light requirement

In cooler northern locations the turmeric plant grows best in full sun. In southern climates the turmeric plant benefits from partial sun, most especially during the hot afternoon hours.

Soil requirement

The Turmeric plant likes a rich soil. Adding compost and/or manure will really help to achieve this. The soil for planting should also drain well.

Water requirement

The water needs of the Turmeric plant actually vary depending on the growth stage. After planting the Turmeric and until the Turmeric rhizomes sprout, water it moderately; at this point, the turmeric plant does not absorb a lot of water yet and overwatering leads to root rot. Once the plant start growing water the plant regularly in the absence of sufficient rain to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.

Fertilizer requirement

The Turmeric plant requires regular fertilization during the growing season in the spring and summer. Feed the Turmeric plant with a complete, balanced water-soluble fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, once a month. For the amount to use, just follow the product label instructions.

How to Harvest Turmeric

Either in the fall or early winter, after the foliage has started to yellow and fade, you can gently dig out some of the rhizomes. Leave at least a portion of each rhizome in the ground; it will actually re-grow next spring.

Keep the unpeeled fresh turmeric in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for several weeks. For longer storage, you can freeze or dry it to grind it into a powder afterward.

Growing Turmeric in pots

Growing turmeric plants in a pot indoors is recommended below zone eight because it allows you to easily move the Turmeric plant outdoors for the summer and back indoors for the winter.

- Start by filling a large container or a grow bag with slightly damp, well-draining potting mix.

- If the Turmeric rhizomes look dry and shriveled, you can soak them in tepid water for twenty-four hours.

- Cut the large Turmeric rhizomes with many buds into one to three inch pieces so that each piece has at least 2 to 3 buds.

- Plant 1 piece of the Turmeric rhizome in each container, about two inches deep and with the buds pointing up.

- Keep the room temperature around seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

- Mist daily until you see sprouts emerging. After sprouting, you can move to a routine of daily watering, water enough so the soil never dries out.

- Once the outdoor temperature remains consistently above seventy degrees Fahrenheit during the day and does not drop below fifty degrees Fahrenheit at nighttime, you can move the pot outdoors and put it in a sunny spot that is sheltered from high winds.

- As potted plants dry out much faster outdoors, increase the watering. In hot, dry weather mist the plant leaves.

Pruning Turmeric plant

If you spot a brown leaf or two you can simply prune it out using a good clean cutting tool. Brown leaves may mean that the Turmeric plant needs more water. However yellowing, dying leaves are normal when the Turmeric plant is going into dormancy in the winter.

How to propagate Turmeric

Turmeric can be easily propagated by division. Do this while the Turmeric plant is dormant. Here is how to do it:

- Just dig up a mature turmeric plant.

- You need to the remove excess soil to reveal the shoots (they look like fingers) hanging from the bottom of the plant. Also there should be hairy roots dangling from the shoots as well.

- Separate the "fingers" from the main plant and then allow the cut end to dry.

- If the shoots (fingers) you actually divided still have attached foliage, you can remove the leaves. Some smaller shoots will not have any leaves or foliage at all.

- You can plant the shoots in the ground and then following the planting instructions above.

Potting and Repotting Turmeric plant

Repotting the Turmeric plant is only necessary if you grow the turmeric as a perennial. If you actually harvest a portion of the Turmeric rhizomes every fall, the Turmeric plant is unlikely to outgrow its container very soon. However, turmeric plant benefits from repotting just to refresh the potting mix after a year or two.

Repotting the Turmeric plant is best done at the end of the dormancy period in late winter. Gently lift the Turmeric plant out of the container. Don’t remove any of the excess soil, leaving it on actually helps the plant adjust to the new potting soil. Discard all of the old soil and then clean and sanitize the container. Fill it with fresh potting mix. Plant the turmeric at the same depth as the previous container and water it well.

Overwintering

In a climate where Turmeric plant won’t survive the winter, you will need to move the Turmeric plants indoors for the winter.

Dig out the Turmeric plants that were grown in garden soil. Cut off the top growth and then carefully shake off the excess soil. Store the Turmeric rhizomes in peat moss, sawdust, or vermiculite in a cool, dry location. Make sure you keep the storage medium slightly moist throughout winter by occasionally misting it.

Move the potted Turmeric plant indoors after removing the above-ground portion of the plant. Water the plant sparingly. The Turmeric plant is dormant and has no specific light requirements but keep it in a location where the temperatures are consistently in the fifty degree Fahrenheit or low sixty degree Fahrenheit. Return the Turmeric plant outdoors once the weather warms up in the spring. 

Pest and disease control

The Turmeric plant is not prone to get serious pests or diseases. When the soil is too dry, spider mites may actually appear. You can easily spray them away with water or use insecticidal soaps. Slugs and snails like to snack on the Turmeric plant's young leaves, which may necessitate some form of control.

Overwatered soil can actually lead to soft rot, dry rot, Fusarium rot, and rhizome rot.

Apply the following method:

- Make sure you use disease free planting material.

- Try and provide good drainage facilities.

- Dip the Turmeric Rhizome in copper oxy chloride or zineb (0.3%) for about thirty minutes before planting. 

- Soil drenching with copper oxy chloride (0.25%) in and around the affected Turmeric plants.