Grow Your Own Turmeric from the Grocery Store

By Bubbles
May 4, 2012

If you've ever eaten East Indian food, you've probably tasted turmeric, the bright yellow, pungent spice. It's usually found in powdered form, but it can also be eaten freshly sliced from the root. Would you believe that you can grow it yourself from tubers that are found in most international markets? If that doesn't catch your attention, you can also grow these same tubers/rhizomes into lovely blooming gingers for your summer garden before you harvest the roots in fall for turmeric.

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May 3, 2012 9:55 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jill
Weatherby, Missouri (Zone 5a)
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Thanks for the information. I've got to go see if my grocery store carries ginger roots.

Hurray!
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May 4, 2012 6:06 AM CST
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
I'm sure your grocery store will have Zingiber officinale, the one commonly used in Oriental cooking. Curcuma longa is the name of the turmeric root. Both are used in cooking, but they are different roots.

You might read the article I wrote about shopping in the local international market. "Growing unusual fruits and vegetables from the grocery store." I found so many vegetables that could be grown from a root or seeds in the fruits and vegetable section.
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Dec 4, 2014 8:29 AM CST
Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)
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I liked this article and the information given.
I will be looking for the roots.
Thanks!
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Dec 4, 2014 8:47 AM CST
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
Thanks, Caroline! I found the largest tubers in fall here.
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Dec 4, 2014 10:23 AM CST
Name: Betsy
Texas (Zone 9a)
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Thanks, Sandi. I'm going to look for some in our Asian markets - even if I don't use turmeric - the bloom is pretty.
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Dec 4, 2014 11:03 AM CST
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
Just remember where you've planted it. The tops will die back when it's time to dig the tubers. I didn't remember exactly where I planted mine the first year. Couldn't be sure what I was digging up!
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Dec 5, 2014 10:52 AM CST
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
Region: Texas Tropicals Plumerias Ferns Greenhouse Garden Art
FYI! Make sure you wear gloves when you peel and slice. It really stains.

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