Turmeric plant
Plant Size Guide

Turmeric
Curcuma Longa
days to maturity: 8-10 months
plant spacing: 2 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-10 hours
look out for: needs very compost rich soil
harvest notes: harvest turmeric rhizomes in spring after plant dies back
perennial
Turmeric, native to India and Southeast Asia, is a valuable spice that can easily be grown in the South Florida home garden. Turmeric is used as a dried powder in many Indian dishes and used as a fresh root in juices and tonics. The flavor of turmeric is earthy, musky, slightly bitter with a kick of ginger-like spicy warmth. Its most prevalent as an ingredient in curry pastes and spice blends but it can be used in many ways in the kitchen.
These days, it’s become quite popular as a medicinal plant. Turmeric is considered a superfood as the active compound Curcumin is believed to have a wide range of biological effects including anti- inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antibacterial, and antiviral. Curcumin is capable of promoting nerve regeneration after nerve injury and is 2,000 times more bioavailable when consumed with capsaicin, most commonly found in black pepper but also found in chili peppers. Turmeric is a blood mover and blood thinner, which helps to improve internal and external circulation. Because of this, anyone on blood thinning medication should use caution around consuming Turmeric as it can magnify the affects of anti-clotting agents.
Like ginger and galangal, turmeric is a prolific root crop grown under a beautiful waxy leafed tropical plant. Plants require fertile soil and can handle partial shade or full sun. This crop is traditionally grown from spring to spring and it does most of its leafy growth during the rainy humid summers, and then the top of the plant will die off and it will focus its energy on growing rhizomes through the dry winter months. Side dressing through the season with new compost is recommended, and if you need access to turmeric before “harvest time” just push the soil around and grab yourself a chunk of rhizome, no need to harvest the whole plant at once. You can also grow turmeric in a 7 gallon pot just make sure to add a bit of compost and organic fertilizer a few times throughout its life.
Delivery Details
Delivery Details
When you place your order we head into our greenhouse to select the very best plants we have in stock for your garden. We label them with handwritten compostable wooden labels and pack them in recyclable boxes to keep them safe on their journey. Our delivery partners, Roadie, take it from there and head to the Redlands to pick up your order. Communication and tracking take place via Roadie and your driver will leave your plants in a safe and covered area.
Plant Care
Plant Care
When your plant delivery arrives, make sure you water your new plants thoroughly with a light spray of water (none of this thumb over the hose stuff). We recommend planting them within 10 days of receiving them. If you do intent to wait to plant them, we recommend placing them in a shallow reservoir (like a baking pan) and filling it with half an inch of water so they can drink the water from below while you are at work and place them in an area with plenty of sun. When planting in your garden always add a dash of Organic granular fertilizer, and give them extra water during their first week in their new home, while they adjust. We recommend disturbing the root ball as little as possible during planting.
About Our Plants
About Our Plants
All of our plants are grown in OMRI certified Organic materials (potting mix, fertilizer, seeds, etc.) and include Organic granular fertilizer, living locally-made compost, and have been cared for with healthy microorganisms from compost tea and microbial inoculants. We only use organic pesticides when needed. We only stock varieties that we have experience growing and that are season and climate appropriate for South Florida. Our curated inventory is simple enough for a beginner and interesting enough to keep an advanced gardeners attention, with new and rare varieties being added weekly.
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Now Little River Nursery & Little River Gardens
Two new names, one guiding vision; to empower people through food and ecology. For more information on our garden installation services visit the Little River Gardens website.

