Growing Turmeric and Growing Ginger: Growing Healthy Roots at Home!

Growing turmeric and growing ginger are both easy. Start growing them now to have your own constant supply of these beneficial herbal roots.

I have to admit, if you tell me I can’t do something, I’m going to find a way to do it anyway! When I moved to North Carolina, people said I couldn’t grow tropical plants here. Thirteen years later I have a tangerine and calamondin plant, bananas and figs, and ginger and turmeric.

Growing Ginger and Growing Turmeric at Home

Ginger and turmeric are easy to grow and you can have your own constant supply of these beneficial herbal roots.

(Check out our article on using a ginger wrap for cough.)

(Also, check out these 10 amazing health benefits of turmeric!)

Start with Good Roots

Ginger and turmeric are rhizomes, not roots, but roots will grow from them. Like irises, they like to sit on top of the ground or just below the surface. So if you want to try growing turmeric and growing ginger, look for fresh rhizomes in the organic section of your local health food store. These will not have chemicals that could inhibit rooting. Be sure the rhizome is plump, not shriveled. Look for leaves or roots starting, similar to what you would see on a potato. Take them home and store them in a jar in the refrigerator for a few days. Mist with a bit of water to keep it damp, but not wet. Mold will form if they get too wet.

Preparing the Perfect Soil

Once you have fresh rhizomes in your refrigerator, it’s time to prepare your pots. Even though the rhizome sits on or near the surface of the soil, the roots will extend deep into the pot. Be sure to choose a good pot to start, like a gallon size.

When I am growing turmeric and growing ginger, I start by mixing a good blend of dirt. My “special mix” is ⅓ existing soil or organic potting soil, ⅓ pine bark mulch (I used old applewood mulch last year with great results), and ⅓ compost or manure. If using manure, be sure it’s well-aged. You can also throw in a handful of slow-release fertilizer.

Mix the soil well and water before adding to the pot.

Setting Up the Plant

In the bottom of the pot, add about 3-4 inches of soil. Dampen again and add soil to 3 inches below the top of the pot. Place your rhizome on the soil and lightly cover. Water once more and place in a sunny spot. You can place them outside if the nighttime temperatures are above 50°F. If not, then place it in a sunny window. At this point, light is not key for growing turmeric and growing ginger because heat is most important in the beginning. This planting method will work well with both turmeric and ginger.

In-Ground Planting

You can plant both turmeric and ginger in the ground, but if you live in an area with bad soil, it must be amended first. I suggest the above mixture for in-ground gardens too.

As stated above, wait until the nighttime temps are above 50°F before planting in the ground. Use the above instructions to plant the rhizomes in the same way. Keep well watered until established.

NOTE: Be aware that both ginger and turmeric can be invasive if grown in the ground. Keep an eye on your plants, and if it starts to creep outside of the garden boundaries, place a shovel where you want to stop the growth and stomp on it! These rhizomes can be very tough, so it may take some work. Anything outside the boundary line can be used or replanted.

Waiting…

Both turmeric and ginger are tropical, heat-loving plants. Some years it takes until July for turmeric to put out leaves, so don’t give up on it too soon. Ginger will grow faster, and by summer’s end, it could reach 8 feet tall with numerous white fragrant blossoms. It will take a few years for the plants to reach a size from which you can harvest rhizomes on a regular basis, but it will be worth the wait.

Growing Ginger & Growing Turmeric With Only Water

There is another way to grow ginger and turmeric, with just water! Fill a small bucket about halfway with water and place the ginger inside. Be sure to use filtered water as chlorine can inhibit sprouting. (Find DIY Natural’s favorite water filtration systems here.)

Keep in a warm place for best results.

Sometimes ginger or turmeric can go bad when done this way, so you need to keep an eye on the water. If it gets cloudy or smells foul, change it. If you think the ginger or turmeric has gone bad, throw it out and start over.

You can keep growing ginger and growing turmeric in water for years. If you place the bucket outside, watch for algae growth, as this can inhibit sprouting as well.

Harvesting Scapes From Ginger & Turmeric Plants

When the first shoots are coming up, these can be harvested and used just like the rhizome. Ginger scapes are milder in flavor, but still spicy enough to add a treat to your cooking. Turmeric scapes can be broken off and added to milk with other spices to make “golden milk” and used in other middle eastern dishes. When young, they taste more earthy than spicy.

Caring for Ginger & Turmeric in the Fall

In the fall when the nighttime temperatures dip below 50°F, both of these plants will lose their leaves and prepare to go dormant for winter. Dig up or bring the plants inside and store them in a cooler spot, like a basement or garage. When you dig them up be careful of the fibrous roots that will be below the rhizome. Water a bit about once a month to keep the rhizome from drying out.

If you live in an area that is higher than Zone 7, you may be able to get them to overwinter outside. Two years in a row, the winter temperatures here did not get below freezing, and both my turmeric and ginger survived. The next winter we had temps of 13°F, and they didn’t make it. Lesson learned.

Have you tried growing turmeric or growing ginger? Give it a try this year!

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