Pile of turmeric roots with slices of blue turmeric with bright green centers.

How To Grow Turmeric Plants

Updated on Mar 20, 2024
By Baillie Blankenship

Turmeric is a wonderful culinary spice that is also an important part of Ayurveda and other forms of Indian and Asian traditional medicines. This close relative to ginger is easily grown indoors, outdoors during summer, or under glass. Harvest the roots for fresh, homegrown turmeric.


HISTORY

Turmeric is an herbaceous plant native to India and Southeast Asia. It has been used in Vedic culture for up to 4,000 years. Turmeric was first used as a dye but eventually became an important part of traditional eastern medicine practices like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese medicine, and Siddha medicine due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

USES

  • Used for juicing and tea.
  • Dried turmeric powder is added to soups, curries, and many other dishes.
  • Turmeric may also be used as a natural dye.
Yellow turmeric roots in black bowl with stems extending out of frame to the right. To the bottom left of the bowl are several peeled pieces of bright orange-yellow turmeric root.Yellow turmeric roots in black bowl with stems extending out of frame to the right. To the bottom left of the bowl are several peeled pieces of bright orange-yellow turmeric root.

 

  • Turmeric needs about 8-10 months to grow and mature.
  • Begin waking up fingers and hands indoors in March.
  • Place the pieces in soil with the growth tips pointed up and the lower half below the soil.
  • Keep warm on a heat mat and water just enough to maintain moist soil (do not over water or the root may rot).
  • Rhizomes may take 4-6 weeks to wake up and begin growing.
  • Alternatively, you can use live plant starts.
Inside a greenhouse looking at several raised beds with turmeric and ginger plants of varying stages of development. The leaves are bright green and large, clustered around a central stem.Inside a greenhouse looking at several raised beds with turmeric and ginger plants of varying stages of development. The leaves are bright green and large, clustered around a central stem.

 

  • Planting in loose, well-draining soil will maximize your yield.
  • When the weather begins to warm, plant in well-cultivated beds or in pots.
  • If you have a short growing season, you will want to use pots (5-10 gallon) so plants can be brought indoors when the weather cools.
  • Choose a location in full sun with afternoon shade.
  • Space plants at least 1 foot apart or plant 1 plant per pot.
  • Keep well-watered, but never waterlogged.
  • To ensure robust growth and rhizome formation provide a balanced fertilizer.
  • Harvest in mid-fall when foliage begins to brown.
  • Clean, dry, and cure.
  • Fingers are used fresh or dried and made into a powder.
On the right is a small decorative silver spoon; on the left is a small turmeric plant in a cube of soil. The leaves are bright green, broad oval shapes with a pointy tip.On the right is a small decorative silver spoon; on the left is a small turmeric plant in a cube of soil. The leaves are bright green, broad oval shapes with a pointy tip.

 

  • Gently dig up the plants and wash off the soil.
  • Trim off roots and trim foliage to about 2” tall.
  • In a well-ventilated area, lay out in a single layer to dry on a screen or table.
  • After drying, break off turmeric fingers from the hand/mother.
  • Store both fingers and hands in a single layer in a 60-70 F area with some humidity and good airflow to cure.
  • Too dry can dehydrate turmeric and too humid can cause turmeric to rot.
  • Turmeric can be regrown from both the fingers and the hand.
Clumps of knobby grey-blue to brown turmeric roots on a dark blue-black surface. The "finger" and "hand" shapes of the roots can be seen.Clumps of knobby grey-blue to brown turmeric roots on a dark blue-black surface. The "finger" and "hand" shapes of the roots can be seen.