AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: buy if available:
July - October or
November - February
TURMERIC GROWING INFORMATION © Frances Michaels
BOTANICAL NAME: Curcuma domestica syn.
Curcuma longa
COMMON NAMES: turmeric; Indian saffron; ukon; nghe; wong-keong
FAMILY: Zingiberaceae, the ginger family
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Turmeric is native to the monsoon forests of south east Asia. It is a perennial herb to 1m tall with underground
rhizomes. It produces tall, very beautiful, white flower spikes, if clumps are left undisturbed for a year. The
flower is so attractive that it is worth growing for this alone. It requires a well-drained soil, frost-free
climate and 1000 to 2000mm of rain annually or supplementary irrigation. It thrives best on loamy or alluvial
fertile soils and cannot stand waterlogging. Heavy shade will reduce the yield but light shade is beneficial.
USES
Ground turmeric comprises 25% of curry powder and is used to give it a yellow colour. The harvested rhizomes are
boiled and sun-dried for 7-8 days but can be used fresh. It is also used as a yellow food dye, replacing tetrazine.
Leaves wrapped around fish flavour it during cooking. In Indonesia, the young shoots and rhizome tips are eaten
raw.
PLANTING DETAILS
Plant turmeric in September or October, into a warm soil. The rhizomes should be planted 5-7 cm deep. It is often
planted on ridges, usually about 30-45 cm apart and with 15-30 cm between plants. The crop is planted by setts
(small rhizomes) with one or two buds. Approximately 1,700 kg of setts are required to one hectare. Expected yield
would be 13 to 35 tonnes/ha of fresh turmeric. In cooler areas of Australia turmeric can be grown in glasshouses.
Like all herbaceous perennials clumps of turmeric need to be broken up and fresh pieces planted every 3 to 4 years.
HARVEST
Rhizomes are harvested 9 to 10 months after planting, the lower leaves turning yellow or stems drying and falling
over are indications of maturity. It is possible for the home gardener to just dig carefully at the side of a clump
and remove rhizomes as needed rather than harvesting the whole clump.
Recent research from a study in the
Journal of the American Chemical Society into turmeric, commonly used
as a spice and curry ingredient, has demonstrated wide-ranging health giving properties. More info...
http://www.sikhnet.com/news/holy-powder-ingredient-makes-membranes-behave-better-health
Journal of the American Chemical Society:
http://pubs.acs.org/journal/jacsat
NOT TO TAS or WA
SORRY but due to quarantine restrictions between Australian States no plants at all can be ordered
by residents of
TAS and
WA. These restrictions
are very important as they prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases. No garlic, shallots, elephant
garlic, strawberries or potatoes can be sent to
SA.
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