Turmeric

Turmeric requires fertile, well-draining soil that retains moisture but doesn't become waterlogged. To plant turmeric, you can buy seed turmeric pieces or start with a rhizome from the grocery store. Choose firm pieces that are not dried out and that have many fingers. If the piece is large it can be cut with a sterile knife into smaller 2-3" (5-8 cm) pieces with 2-3 fingers each. Allow the cuts to callous over for a day or two. If using grocery store turmeric, soak the pieces for 24 hours to remove any sprout inhibiting agents (if using organic turmeric you can skip this step). Turmeric pieces can be pre-sprouted together in a nursery tray then potted up to larger containers or transplanted outside. Lay the pieces horizontally on a layer of potting mix with buds pointed up then loosely cover the pieces with 1" (2.5 cm) of potting mix. Do not let the potting mix dry out entirely but do water sparingly during the sprouting phase to avoid rhizome rot. Use a heat mat under the tray to encourage sprouting, and place the tray under grow lights as soon as the buds emerge. Plant sprouted turmeric rhizomes 1-2" (2.5-5 cm) deep in loose soil. In colder climates turmeric will perform best in a greenhouse or hoop house where warm, humid conditions can be maintained, though it can be grown outdoors. It can be helpful to grow turmeric in its own container so the temperature, soil, and light conditions can be optimized. Choose a container that is 12" (30 cm) wide at minimum. Plant turmeric in a location where it will receive dappled, indirect sunlight for several hours a day. Turmeric performs best with as many hours of daylight as possible but it does not like intense, blazing sun.

Start fertilizing turmeric once the shoots emerge. Fertilize turmeric regularly throughout the growing season with a balanced fertilizer. High-nitrogen fertilizers can stimulate too much leaf growth at the expense of rhizome growth.

Turmeric can be harvested as "baby turmeric" or "young turmeric" as soon as 6 months after planting. In climates with short growing seasons turmeric is typically harvested while it is young. Young turmeric is fresh and has a thin skin. Young turmeric does not need to be peeled, however it cannot be cured for long-term storage like fully mature turmeric. It can take 8-10 months to grow fully mature turmeric with a thick skin that can be cured and stored. To harvest turmeric, carefully pull or fork the plant out of the ground or pull the soil back and snap off individual pieces and leave the rest of the plant to continue growing. If you pull up the entire plant you can cut off 2-3" (5-7 cm) pieces and replant them as starter plants for next year. Turmeric leaves and stems are commonly removed for storage although they can be used in cooking.

Wash turmeric rhizomes to remove all dirt- baby turmeric will need to be washed gently to avoid damaging the thin skin. Air dry the turmeric pieces but do not let them sit in the sun. Mature turmeric can be left on racks with good airflow at 72-78F (22-26C) to cure for 3-5 days then stored in a cool, dark place or in the fridge for several weeks up to months. Baby turmeric can be stored wrapped in plastic in the fridge for up to two weeks, although it may start to become a bit rubbery the longer it is stored. Both baby turmeric and mature turmeric can be frozen in a freezer-safe bag for up to several months- simply take out a frozen piece, grate off the desired amount, then put the remainder back in the freezer. Turmeric slices can also be dehydrated and ground to make turmeric powder.