How to Plant Turmeric In a Raised Bed or Container

Have you ever wanted to plant turmeric? There are so many amazing health benefits of turmeric but even more importantly, it makes your food taste delicious!! It makes such a great edition to add to your arsenal!

When my sister started to suffer from chronic pain due to her auto-immune issues I began looking into all the different ways out there people try to treat inflammation in their bodies. Inflammation is needed when your body has been hurt. It helps repair the root of most pain. But inflammation can bring even more pain than needed and when you have an auto-immune issue that inflammation can get out of control.

When I came across turmeric and its health benefits I knew this was something I wanted to grow. Not just for my sister but for us as well.

Turmeric is an antioxidant. There are many uses for it. It has been shown to reduce inflammation, detox your liver, boost your immune system, improve digestion, improve skin health, and prevent some forms of cancer.

Did I mention – it also tastes amazing!?

So let’s talk more about turmeric.

Turmeric is grown by breaking up the root system and using them as seeds. You can use organic turmeric that you purchase from the store, but this can be taking a gamble on if they will do well. I searched around online and ended up purchasing my turmeric from Etsy. I looked for certified organic turmeric to ensure quality. The little shop I purchased from is not selling plants anymore. But click >>>HERE<<< to see some of the other options available on Etsy. Be sure to look for the ‘certified organic’ label.

Items Needed:

Turmeric
Slightly Acidic Soil
Large Container

You want your container to be well-drained. I found a wooden wine barrel that had been cut in half at Home Depot. I brought it home and using a drill I put about 8 holes in the bottom to be sure it drained well.

Why I wanted to plant in a container.

My intention with planting the turmeric in a container is so I can treat it as if it is an annual. This way I can harvest it each year, collect some of my harvests to store, and then I can plant it again in the spring. So this is what makes containers super awesome! I can dedicate a space to the turmeric now and the container can be moved around depending on what I may want to plant in them when the fall months arrive.

I like to plant my turmeric after the first frost. They grow throughout the spring and summer and then when the leaves start to die in the fall I harvest them.

Before planting, break your turmeric roots up into smaller sections. Mostly dividing up the fingers of the roots. You will notice each little section will have little nodes sticking out of them or the begging of them forming. Try to get a few on a cut. After separating them leave them to dry for a few days in a cool, dry, and dark space. This will let the ends heal so when you put them in the ground they will not rot due to any moisture.

Now let’s stick it in the dirt.

To plant the turmeric, place it about an inch and a half under the dirt with the little nodes (fingers) facing up. This is what the plant grows from.

Turmeric likes full sun to partial shade. Living in the South Texas heat I placed mine in an area that had partial shade to keep the sun from burning it. I also tried to place mine in an area that didn’t get a lot of wind to protect it.

They also love water. So remember to keep them watered thoroughly.Water them once to twice a week depending on the soil. I feel the soil by sticking my finger down into it to see if it is drying out.

These have been such fun growing these this past summer. I will be back on to show you my harvest shortly! If you have any questions please feel free to ask below.