Hello and thank you for contacting Ask Extension.

Growing both Turmeric and Ginger is fairly easy and straight forward but you will need some patience! I grow both so am familiar with the process for each.

Both are grown in soil that is loose, rich in organic matter and drains easily. Both do best in containers but can be planted in raised beds or in the ground. My suggestion is to grow in containers or raised beds for better control.

There is some debate over whether you should use rhizomes* that you can purchase from a grocery store or if you should obtain the rhizomes from a nursery. Keep in mind that if you do decide to purchase the rhizomes at a grocery store that you might need to soak the rhizome/tuber overnight to remove any "inhibitors" that might have been applied to keep the plants from sprouting. The best option in that case is to purchase organic rhizomes or buy from a natural food store.

Ginger:

- after soaking the rhizome, you can either submerge it about halfway in a dish of shallow water until the sprouts form or you can place it directly in the soil.

- the container should be at least 8 inches deep with adequate drainage.

- you should use a high-quality potting soil that is rich in organic matter or you can mix straight potting soil with aged compost in a ratio of 1:1

- the rhizome should be about 1.5-2 inches long and have two growth eyes. Lay the pieces flat on the soil with the growth buds facing up and cover them with about 1 inch soil

- keep the soil moist but not soggy - very damp soil will rot the rhizome. Ginger does best in humid conditions with a temperature between 75 - 80 degrees.

- Ginger does best in bright, indirect/dappled light or morning sun but avoid the afternoon sun.

- you can harvest bits of the Ginger at about 4-6 months but for a stronger/spicier flavor the best time to harvest is in late autumn or early winter when the leaves begin to die back. Gently dig up the entire clump and cure (curing is the process of drying out the root for approx. 1-2 weeks to increase shelf life) the rhizomes in a warm, dry place before using them. Remember to save some rhizomes to replant next year.

Turmeric:

• You can plant pieces (about 2-3 inches long) with at least 2 buds or you can place them in a shallow layer of water and spray them everyday for a few weeks until green shoots appear.
• The soil for Turmeric needs less compost than Ginger. The mix should be about 70-80% potting soil with 20-30% aged compost.
• If using a container, it should be about 12 inches as the roots grow horizontally
• Turmeric is a tropical plant that needs warmth and humidity – temp between 68 – 86 degrees (F)
• Filtered sunlight or partial shade – too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves
• Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Make sure pot has proper drainage holes.
• Turmeric is ready to harvest when the leaves completely dry out and die back (approx. 8-10 months)
• Break off a few large, mature pieces with buds attached to replant for you next crop and wash the rest thoroughly to use

Hope all this helps!!

Best of luck!

J.W. Wistermayer
UD NCC Master Gardener