Latest / The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners / Episode 23 – Turmeric - the Golden Spice of Life

Transcript

Episode 23 – Turmeric - the Golden Spice of Life · The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners

• 0:28
  Welcome back to the Beanstalk, fellow beans.
• 0:31
  My name is John, your neighborhood garden buddy, and
• 0:36
  today we're talking about a truly golden gem of the garden,
• 0:41
  turmeric. Known for its warm color, earthy
• 0:46
  flavor, and incredible health benefits, this tropical root is
• 0:51
  one of those plants that will make you feel like a magician in
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  your own kitchen and greenhouse. Whether you grow up for cooking,
• 0:59
  medicine, or just the joy of raising something exotic in your
• 1:03
  backyard, turmeric is a rewarding and surprisingly
• 1:08
  adaptable crop once you understand its quirks.
• 1:12
  So grab your gloves and let's dig in.
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  Why we want to grow turmeric Turmeric isn't just a spice,
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  it's an experience. You can grow indoors or
• 1:27
  outdoors, depending on your climate, and it adds a splash of
• 1:32
  lush tropical greenery to your space.
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  Each rhizome you harvest is a treasure trove of curcumin, the
• 1:41
  compound responsible for its powerful anti-inflammatory and
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  antioxidant properties. Beyond health, there's something
• 1:50
  deeply satisfying about harvesting a root that's been
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  quietly expanding underground for 8 to 10 months, waiting to
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  reveal its golden glow. Let's cover how to grow
• 2:04
  turmeric. Turmeric grows best in warm,
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  humid environments with temperatures between 68 to 95°F.
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  It's happiest in USDA zones 8 to 11, but don't worry if you live
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  in a cooler area. Turmeric thrives in containers
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  indoors as long as it gets plenty of light.
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  Starting rhizomes. You can start turmeric from
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  pieces of fresh rhizomes. Look for plump, firm pieces with
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  at least one or two visible buds or eyes.
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  Soil Mix Use a rich, well draining soil with plenty of
• 2:52
  organic matter. Compost and coconut coir or peat
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  Moss work well. Planting Depth Barrier Rhizome
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  about two inches deep, buds facing upward.
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  Watering Keep the soil consistently moist but never
• 3:13
  soggy. Over watering can lead to rot.
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  Light. If growing indoors, place near a
• 3:23
  sunny window or use a grow light for 11:50 hours of light per day
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  and fertilization. Feed every few weeks with a
• 3:36
  balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea to encourage strong
• 3:40
  root growth. Let's go over how to harvest
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  turmeric. Turmeric takes 8 to 10 months
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  from planting to harvest. When the leaves begin to yellow
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  and die back, it's your signal that the rhizomes are ready.
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  Gently loosen the soil and lift the whole plant.
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  You'll find clusters of bright orange rhizomes underneath.
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  Cleaning. Rinse them gently and let them
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  air dry. Curing.
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  Let them sit in a warm, shaded area for a week to toughen up
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  the skin before storing and storage.
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  Keep them in a cool dark place for a few months or freeze them
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  for longer use. And now for some common pests
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  and problems. First up is root rot, the most
• 4:50
  common issue caused by poor drainage or over watering.
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  Next is aphids and spider mites. Spray them with neem oil or a
• 5:03
  mild insecticidal soap solution if you see them.
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  And last up is slugs. If growing outside, these pests
• 5:14
  might nibble the leaves. Use organic slug traps or
• 5:18
  crushed eggshell barriers. Let's talk about some companion
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  planting tips. Turmeric loves the company of
• 5:30
  other moisture loving plants like ginger, lemongrass and
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  basil. These plants help shade the soil
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  and maintain humidity while naturally deterring pests.
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  Avoid planting them near very thirsty or invasive species like
• 5:49
  mint which can out compete it for nutrients.
• 5:54
  Let's glance at some seed saving tips.
• 5:59
  Turmeric doesn't produce viable seeds for gardeners.
• 6:03
  It reproduces through its rhizomes.
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  To save seed stock, set aside a few of your best, healthiest
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  roots each harvest and replant them the following spring.
• 6:18
  Here are some pros and cons of growing turmeric.
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  Firstly, some pros. Turmeric has beautiful tropical
• 6:29
  foliage. It's incredibly useful for
• 6:33
  cooking and natural medicine, and it's easy to regrow from
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  saved rhizomes. And lastly, some cons.
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  It requires a long growing season.
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  Turmeric is quite sensitive to cold and it can be slow to start
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  indoors without warmth. Now for a fun, simple and rather
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  unique recipe, Golden Milk Latte.
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  This warm comforting drink is the perfect way to enjoy home
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  grown turmeric. Up first is the ingredients. 2
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  cups of milk, dairy or plant based, It really doesn't matter.
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  One teaspoon of ground turmeric or one inch of fresh root grated
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  1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, one
• 7:51
  teaspoon of honey or Maple syrup and one pinch of black pepper.
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  And last up is the cooking instructions.
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  Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan.
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  Warm over medium heat for five to seven minutes, stirring
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  occasionally. Strain if using fresh turmeric
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  and pour into your favorite mug. Sip, relax, and enjoy that cozy,
• 8:28
  earthy flavor. Let's check out some fun facts
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  about turmeric. Turmeric has been used in
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  Ayurvedic medicine for over 4000 years.
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  In India, turmeric is considered sacred, symbolizing purity,
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  fertility, and prosperity. The bright color comes from
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  curcumin, a compound that also makes turmeric, a natural dye.
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  Turmeric can even be used to test acidity.
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  Mix it in water if it turns red. Your solution is basic.
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  The spice is so revered that in some cultures brides use
• 9:18
  turmeric paste as a beauty treatment before weddings and
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  ancient sailors used turmeric dyed clothes to mark their trade
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  goods because the colour was so distinctive.
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  Now entering the garden nerds corner, did you know turmeric's
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  close relative is ginger? And both plants help improve
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  soil microbiology. The compounds in their roots can
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  even suppress certain soil pathogens.
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  Turmeric also forms a relationship with mycorrhizal
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  fungi, which helps boost nutrient uptake, making it a
• 10:04
  great addition to regenerative and organic garden systems.
• 10:10
  Thanks again for hanging out with me today on the Beanstalk,
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  Fellow Beans. If you want to keep the
• 10:16
  conversation going, we've got a growing community over at the
• 10:20
  Beanstalk Garden Club on Facebook.
• 10:23
  Come join us, share your garden photos, swap ideas, and let's
• 10:28
  nerd out over plants together. If you're enjoying the podcast,
• 10:33
  don't forget to hit follow on Spotify so you never miss an
• 10:37
  episode. We'd also love to hear your
• 10:40
  feedback or questions for future episodes.
• 10:45
  From our patch to yours, keep on climbing.
• 11:20
  Music.