Turmeric / Curcuma

Plant family

Ginger family (Zingiberaceae)

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Dark germinator

Germination temperature

20 - 25 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

40 cm

Seeding depth

6 cm

Instructions

Description

Turmeric is a prominent member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). Within the genus Curcuma, the species Curcuma longa is the most important commercially. Although the term "turmeric" is usually used in the trade, a distinction is made in practice between different commercial types (varieties), which differ in curcumin content and aroma: - 'Madras': The classic; light yellow flesh, mild aroma, ideal for curry blends. - 'Alleppey': The premium variety; deep orange, high curcumin content, very intense and earthy. - 'Lakadong': A rarity with an extremely high active ingredient content The plant grows perennially herbaceous and reaches a height of 60 to 100 cm. It does not form woody stems, but sprouts directly from the underground rhizome. The leaves are large, lanceolate and smooth-edged. They sit on long stems and can grow up to 45 cm long. Their rich light green color ensures a high leaf mass. Due to the spreading leaves, a radius of approx. 30-40 cm should be planned for each plant.

Growing tips

It is best to plant the tuber in a larger pot, approx. 20 to 30 liters of moist soil. Cultivate outdoors throughout the year and bring indoors before the first frost. Harvest the bulb in the fall. Replant a piece in soil for next year's harvest. Turmeric is extremely resistant to most domestic pests and diseases, which means that no pesticides are needed for cultivation. The leaves are non-toxic and can be used in small quantities as an anti-inflammatory feed supplement for small animals (e.g. guinea pigs).