Turmeric
Turmeric is a herb in the Zingiberaceae family. It grows best in part shade with medium to high moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 8-11. Plants reach harvest about 240–300 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Turmeric240–300 days
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Rhizome (not currently in seed catalog). Use: Edible rhizome; bright orange spice and dye. Harvest: Harvest rhizomes 8-10 months after planting once foliage dies back.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a tropical relative of ginger grown for its vivid orange rhizome, the source of the spice and dye. Grown from rhizome pieces; needs a long warm season. Hardy in zones 8-11, otherwise grown in pots or as an annual.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Curcuma longa|Hardiness zones: 8-11|Propagation: rhizome|Sun needs: Part shade|Water needs: Medium to high|Mature height: 3-4 feet|Spacing: 12 inches|Harvest: Harvest rhizomes 8-10 months after planting once foliage dies back
Plant spacing
In a square-foot bed, space turmeric about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.
Plan your turmeric planting
Add turmeric to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Storing & preserving
Refrigerate stems in water, or wrap in a damp towel for a few days.
- Dry: Dehydrate or air-dry, then store airtight away from light.
- Freeze: Freeze chopped in oil or water in ice-cube trays.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for turmeric yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.