Growing Turmeric in Texas

Spice it up

• Turmeric is part of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is considered to be one of the hidden gingers because the large leaves are taller than the flowers and tend to hide them. The cylindrical, late summer to fall flowers are greenish-white or white and may be purple-pink at the top. Turmeric leaves grow to 3 feet tall, while the flowers grow to about 1 foot tall. Turmeric spice, also known as Indian saffron, is made from the fleshy, yellow to orange rhizomes, the underground stems.

Here’s the Dirt

• Turmeric prefers soil that is high in organic matter with a pH of 6.1 to 6.5, which is slightly acidic. It requires soil that drains quickly but can be kept moist, not soggy, from spring through fall. Texas, with its highly diverse geology, has a very wide range of soils, including sandy-loam or loamy, clay and others. In most areas, a 3- to 6-inch deep layer of organic matter will need to be mixed into the soil.

  Test the soil pH before and after adding the organic matter as it will change, depending on the pH of the organic matter. Sphagnum peat moss will lower the pH, adding acidity, more than compost, well-aged cow manure or leaf mold will. The pH can be raised with the addition of lime or lowered with the addition of sulfur. The amount of lime or sulfur required depends on the soil texture and how far the pH needs to be adjusted. You can rent a drop spreader to apply lime and sulfur or spread by hand, but either way, wear gloves and goggles, and work into the soil after applying.

Let the Sun Shine In

• Turmeric grows best with two to three hours of direct sunlight each day. In arid to semi-arid areas of Texas, where temperatures soar and the soil dries quickly, plant turmeric where it will get direct morning sunlight with shade in the afternoon. Plant the rhizomes 4 to 6 inches deep and about 3 feet apart in the spring and divide them in the spring or summer every five years or so.

Nutritional Needs

• For best results, mix a controlled-release or slow-release fertilizer into the soil prior to planting: Spread 1 pound of a balanced fertilizer, such as 14-14-14, 10-10-10 or similar, over 10 square feet of soil, and mix it into the top 4 to 6 inches. Give the turmeric 1/4 cup of the same fertilizer for each 10 square feet every three or six months, depending on how long the fertilizer is formulated to last. Turmeric should not be given any fertilizer in the winter. Give the same type of fertilizer to container-grown plants at a rate of 2 1/2 tablespoons per 10-inch pot.

Pesky Insects

• Slugs and snails may munch on turmeric leaves. Oregon State University Extension Service suggests setting out shallow containers filled with beer. Attracted to the beer, they crawl in and drown. Replace the beer every three days or less. In areas of Texas where the air becomes dry, spider mites and mealy bugs may attack turmeric plants. Hose them off every morning or every other morning with a strong spray from a garden hose until they are no longer a problem. Mushroom root rot can infect turmeric. If the top leaves turn brown, dig up the rhizome and cut a piece of it open. Brown, white speckled rhizomes are a clear indication that it is infected. Cut the brown parts off, dust the healthy pieces of rhizome with sulfur powder and plant them in a different area.

Special Conditions

• If you are growing turmeric in northwestern Texas' USDA zones 6B and 7A, which fall slightly outside the hardiness zones for turmeric, lift the rhizomes in the fall, after the foliage dies, place them in a box with sawdust and overwinter them in a cool basement. Alternatively, grow turmeric in containers and bring indoors to a sunny area for the winter. To grow in containers, plant in peat-based potting mix. Spread a 2- to 3-inch depth of mulch around the outdoor turmeric and give it 1 to 2 gallons of water two to three times each week from spring to fall. Let the soil dry before watering in the winter.