Curcuma longa
If you ’ve ever feasted on Indian food , you ’ve doubtless enjoyed the pungent flavor and golden color of Curcuma domestica , Curcuma longa , aka Indian Crocus sativus , an herbaceous perennial in the Zingiberaceae household of plants that is touch to ginger and cardamon .
A chemic chemical compound called curcumin base in the heavy rhizome of this plant is responsible for the burnished hue , as well as numerous potential health benefits .
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C. longafoliage unfurls in the summer sunshine.
In this clause , you will acquire all you need to screw to grow , harvest , and apply this plant .
What You’ll Learn
Let ’s comprehend in !
Cultivation and History
If you go inUSDA Hardiness Zones8 to 11 , you could acquire perennialC. longaby planting its fleshy roots as you wouldgingerorpotato .
You may also have success in periphery zones , provided you apply a sparse layer of mulch during the dormant wintertime time of year , with tolerable drainage to bottle up rotting .
plant produce leaf clumps about three fundament high and wide , while below ground , the rhizomes mature into finger - like Tuber .
C. longafoliage unfurls in the summer sunshine.
By July or August , the bloom buds begin to open . The blossom are yellow and appear inside magnanimous blank bract that are sometimes ting with pink .
If grown outside its optimal zones , C. longaperforms as an annual , cash in one’s chips off at the season ’s goal .
In these areas , you could labor up the rhizomes in the fall , get rid of the leaf , and put in them for the winter in a slightly moist medium like sawdust or vermiculite . you may also bourgeon them indoors during the wintertime as described in the propagation section that follows .
Turmeric has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine , which see back thousands of eld in India . Today ’s cooks and health - witting consumer fall in the healers of old in the ongoing need forC. longain teetotal , fresh , paste , and birth control pill forms .
Per theNIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health , C. longamay also be known asC. domestica , and there are two additional species they have not evaluated : the wildC. aromatica , and JavaneseC. xanthorrhiza .
The NIH also say that preliminary study show thatC. longamay offer health benefit for those suffer from a range of ailments from digestive to inflammatory , but warns that high doses or long - condition usage may result in digestive swage .
In moderation , turmeric ’s fleshy rhizomes , the tubers that grow below the soil , may help us to feel our good , and they by all odds jazz up our meals .
When something savour honorable , and is good for you , do n’t you want to think about growing it in your own backyard ? lease ’s find out how well-off it is !
Propagation
To produce your ownC. longa , you ’ll ask tubers or established plants . you could buy “ hands , ” which are multi - section tuber , or “ finger , ” the individual pieces of a hand , from your local grocer .
However , they may or may not sprout , depend upon whether or not they have been treat with growth retardant .
It is good to buy untreated tubers from a reputable greenhouse . You are probable to see them list as “ seed rootstalk . ”
For culture as an annual , sprout rhizomes indoors , and set them outdoors as before long as possible after the last frost appointment for your surface area . This will give you a jump - head start on the 200 to 300 days it take for flora to maturate .
For best results , start eight to 10 weeks prior to the last average freeze date .
Lay individual “ fingers ” horizontally in a well - debilitate seed - starter tray . If they have jolty protuberances , or have already sprouted , be certain to face the bumps or pullulate upward to belt along them along to the sprout stagecoach .
Cover them with two inches of potting culture medium .
localize the tray on a heat mat to maintain a temperature of 80 to 85 ° degree Fahrenheit .
asseverate even moisture , but do not oversaturate .
After the risk of hoar has passed , transplant the stock fingers to the garden .
go on to defend even wet by provide aninch of water system per weekin the absence of rain , and possibly more during dry piece .
How to Grow
For garden cultivation , plant in early spring . Choose a locating that gets full to part sun , and has loamy , organically - rich soil that drain well .
This is a industrial plant that survives monsoon seasons in its aboriginal land , so it loves humidness and thrives on moisture . However , the soil must drain well , or the roots will molder .
The ideal soil pH is between 4.5 and 7.5 . To watch the characteristics of the earth in your landscape , conduct a grunge testthrough your local agricultural lengthiness .
wreak the grunge to a deepness of 8 to 12 inches , until it is crumbly . Amend it as necessitate with compostto enrich it and improve drain .
Spread the world evenly . There is no need to make mounds , or “ hill ” the soil as with some flora .
believe installinga drip irrigation systemat this time to make it easy to maintain even moisture .
If you have n’t already sprouted your genus Tuber indoors , examine them as we did above .
receive one or more protuberances . think , these can be rounded ends , or bumps somewhere mid - root word . There may be several of these nubby places on any given opus , and maybe even immature sprout growing out of some of them .
localize the genus Tuber into the groundat a deepness of four incheswith one or more nubby or sprouted parts facing upward . You may plant either vertically or horizontally .
Space tubers three to four feet aside and track them with soil .
Water well and maintain an column inch of water per week in the absence seizure of rainfall .
inseminate with a well - balanced , ho-hum - departure granulose fertiliser to cater to this plant ’s hard alimentation drug abuse and need for ample nitrogen .
Because of this plant ’s appetence , it is best to nullify plant it near members of the nightshade , or Solanaceae family that includes eggplants , peppers , and tomatoes . They are also edacious feeders that crave nitrogen , and may compete for nutrients .
More suitable familiar arebeans , cardamom , cilantro , ginger , andpeas . The beans and peas are specially good chum , because legumes such as these “ fix ” N in the soil , making it readily available to nearby garden plants .
If you arecontainer gardening , keep in mind that spring up in pots requires excess vigilance , as they dry out much quicker than the ground . Be sure to plant in mountain with ample drainage muddle , and water on a regular basis to defend constant , even moisture .
The diam of containers should be wide enough to lodge a three- to four - pes spread , with an added column inch or so for way to piss . As the root are shallow , a deepness of 18 to 24 inches should suffice .
Growing Tips
Where to Buy
When shopping for seed rhizome and plants , search for Cartesian product that have been multiply for ranking disease underground .
When you purchase two , you receive a third as a bonus , or six may be purchased with a pregnant bank discount . Shipments start in the USA . works are four to six in tall .
You might also consider approaching your local healthy foods computer memory manager to determine if the turmeric root sprout is development - retardent free , and using it for your ejaculate rhizome .
Managing Pests and Disease
To curb pestis and disease , start with caliber seed rhizomes or plants that have been bred for achiever .
Plant as send word in full sun to part shade in well - draining , organically - fat dirt , and give up space for plants to achieve mature dimensions with full air flow between them .
Some common pests are :
Diseases that may affect this plant let in :
Reduce the entreaty to insects and pathogens by :
keep the garden weeded to promote optimum air flow and deoxidise competitor for urine .
Avoid both over- and under - watering , as plants that are overly lactating or dry are more vulnerable to disease .
Harvesting
In declivity , when the foliage begins to wilt and die , it ’s time to carefully apprehend up your industrial plant .
Using a garden fork , cultivate your way around each plant , pushing down with your understructure on the ramification , and bending the fork back to step by step lift full plant from the land .
Cut off the foliation at the jacket crown , where it meets the roots , and discard it .
The remaining rhizomes are your fresh turmeric “ hands ! ”
Preserving
Fresh tubers stack away well in a mesh udder in the fridge , or an airtight zippered plastic bag in the freezer . Slice or grate them as require .
PerDeborah J. Benoit , University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener , you’re able to salt away whole rhizomes in the electric refrigerator for up to three months , and cut one in the deep-freeze for up to six months .
Be sure to carry through some to plant next maturate season .
In addition , you may boil , dry , and bray the source into a fine powder . bear food - secure gloves and process on a non - stainable surface to avoid dying your skin and comeback sensationalistic .
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
Today ’s holistic health counsellor call turmeric a “ superfood , ” and commend consuming it with black pepper , to raise its engrossment and harvest its benefits to the greatest degree .
Per the folks at theUniversity of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gardening Solutions , a one - inch distance of fresh turmeric stem equate one tablespoonful fresh grated , or one teaspoonful ground .
The flower ofC. longaare also edible , and the fresh foliation is sometimes wrap around solid food for cooking or introduction .
Can you imagine yourself whipping up a batch of curry with fresh Curcuma domestica from your garden ?
And how about enjoying the cost savings of spread your next crop from the tubers you harvest this time of year ? remember of the paying attention gifts you’re able to make by drying and bottling your golden spice for friends and family !
For more on these expression of turmeric , chatter our babe website , Foodal , where you ’ll retrieve everything froma guide to kitchen herbs and spicesto formula such as :
Turmeric Red Lentil Soup with Kale
There ’s nothing more consolatory than a big quite a little of legumes such as lentil . This finical soup is made using red lentil plant and is season with tasty turmeric andcumin .
Kale adds more nutrientsand a pop of color that highlights light-green against red , prepare it calculate as a good as it taste . We feed with our oculus as much as our tongues and stomach , after all .
This vegetarian soup is so vivacious and square , your dinner Edgar Guest will implore for more !
Get the formula on Foodal now .
Krishna’s Golden Turmeric Tea
Cinnamon , cardamom , clove , Myristica fragrans , black pepper , and fresh ginger join smart turmeric in providing a plethora of antioxidant and micronutrients to your dieting with this Indian - root on Camellia sinensis .
Help prevent disease and conserve good health with this fragrant and delectable spiced beverage .
Get this well-situated recipe now on Foodal .
And for even more exciting turmeric - flavour recipes , check out all of the yummy offerings on Foodal .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
A Super Tasty Superfood
If you may provide full sun , organically - robust grime that drains well , and consistent moisture , you are well on your way to cultivate tropic , piquant Curcuma longa in your garden .
And even if you do n’t exist in its preferred develop zones , you’re able to start ejaculate rhizomes well in advance of the growing time of year to get a firm start start on its lengthy way to maturity .
If you found this guide informative and would like to take your own herbs and spices , have a look at the following next :
pic by Felicia Lim and Lorna Kring © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published March 15 , 2019 . Last updated May 13 , 2021 . Product exposure via Papcool Gardens . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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