Finding turmeric roots was no easy feat and I picked up the wrong root from the Indian grocery store the first time. Although the root looks very much like ginger, it is much slimmer and can be called fresh Haldi or turmeric at the store. Break the root to make sure it is a rich orange color to be sure you are buying the right product.
Turmeric leaves are used in the preparation of a Goan sweet called patoleo and is also used to flavor rice or other sweets when cut up and added to the cooking process.
Many friends told me that they had no success growing the leaves or that it seemed to take forever to grow. I found a remedy quite by accident which is most helpful when growing turmeric from the roots. Having finally found the right product I left the package on my counter in a corner (not much light) and my world become occupied with other critical family matters. Four weeks to six weeks later I noticed that the roots on my counter had just begun to form buds. Two weeks later I found the time to pot them in a large pot filled with potting soil, and place the roots just below the surface ( just push down into the soil about half to one inch at the most). The plant does not like too much water so let the soil dry a little on the surface (about an inch) before watering again. Being summer months in Ontario, I planted the turmeric in the pots in late June after all chances of frost had gone. I should note that you could also grow turmeric indoors in a warm , sunny location although I have not tried this.
Slowly but surely you will see sprouts appear about one to two weeks later, and then the plant grows quite rapidly
Notes: It is important to keep the roots in a dry spot till they bud. This gives you an idea when to plant and thereafter you can anticipate the progress. Good luck! ( the buds are little light green to white nodules on the root)
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| July 11, 2016 |
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| Aug 8, 2016 |
I bring my leaves from goa and freeze them by wrapping in parchment paper.
ReplyDeletevery informative i always wanted some now I wilget some thanks so much
ReplyDeleteIt is so rewarding growing your own produce...wishing you all the best in your garden!
DeleteLovely
ReplyDeletewe did this too since we couldn't get the leaves here... what happens when you cut the leaves :) do they regrow? or should i just discard the plant and grow them again next year?
ReplyDeleteturmeric is a rhizome so they will regrow shoots, however if you are in a cold climate then the pot should be brought indoors over colder periods, or you can dig up the root and treat it like you would any bulbs, until ready to grow again.
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DeleteDo you leave the roots in soil over the winter or dig them out and store for the following year?
ReplyDeletethis is the first year I have grown turmeric, but because of the cold here I will dig them up and bring them in because the pot I have is too heavy to lift, and I am not sure if the roots will survive our cold temperatures in a container.
DeleteHow do you use rice flour instead of soaking and grinding the rice into a paste?
ReplyDeleteYou add water to the prepared rice flour to form a thick paste....I have not done this myself but I have heard from others who have tried it. If you have reservations and have no Goa rice handy, you can always substitute any other white rice or brown rice grains and follow the recipe.
DeleteThanks for the tip about leaving it in a dark dry place for some weeks, and also for the useful growing description and photos. I hope to find some rhizomes here (Perth, Australia) and perhaps have some success too. Maybe, just maybe I may get to eat patolio once more after many years. - Susan
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your project. I hope you are successful in finding and growing turmeric. There is nothing more satisfying then seeing your own produce grow, and even more satisfying when you have managed to cook some long-forgotten tastes in your kitchen from the produce you have harvested. Do let me knowhow you make out!
DeleteI've just planted turmeric roots in the ground, as I found roots with buds at the Mapusa market.
ReplyDeleteThe sprouts have just started popping up....
How do I preserve the roots for replanting next summer?
Should I transplant the roots into a pot? Or uproot and dry the root?
I've recently returned from a trip to Goa and brought turmeric roots (with buds).....so planted them in the ground.
ReplyDeleteWhen I dig these up in the fall.....what's the best way to preserve them for planting next summer?
If you want to grow turmeric in cooler areas (below zone 7) then you have to dig up the rhizomes to save them from freezing. For this, dig up the rhizomes and rinse off excess soil from them, snap off rotting pieces. Air dry them and store in a cool and dry place until spring. https://goankhana.blogspot.com/2016/08/growing-fresh-turmeric-leaves.html ( I grow mine in a pot and take it out in Summer. In winter I keep it indoors, let it dry out, cut back the dry leaves above soil level and leave it in a cool, dry place . I take it out again in Spring and begin watering)
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ReplyDeleteWhat is the best way to preserve the turmeric leaves for future use?
ReplyDeleteI have never preserved the leaves myself. I pot my turmeric and use as needed. When the weather gets too cold outdoors I bring the pot inside and leave it in a sunny location.
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