Organically grown at KoruKai Herb Farm, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, without the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, or herbicides.
Turmeric has been treasured for thousands of years as both a culinary spice and one of the world's most important medicinal plants. Its bright golden rhizomes contain curcuminoids, particularly curcumin, which have been extensively studied for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Modern scientific research continues to investigate turmeric's potential role in supporting healthy inflammatory responses, immune function, cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and overall wellbeing. Curcumin has also demonstrated antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal activity in laboratory and clinical research. While many of these findings are promising, further high-quality human studies are still needed to confirm its effectiveness for specific health conditions.*
Our turmeric has been successfully grown in Canterbury for over a decade and at KoruKai Herb Farm for several years. While it is a tropical plant, it can be grown successfully in much of New Zealand when provided with sufficient warmth and protection from frost.
In cooler parts of the South Island, we recommend growing turmeric in a glasshouse, conservatory, or large pot that can be moved into a warm, sheltered position over winter. It also makes an attractive indoor foliage plant, producing lush tropical leaves throughout the growing season.
Each order includes one healthy turmeric crown with one or more dormant growing buds. During winter the foliage naturally dies back while the rhizome rests below ground before sending up vigorous new shoots in spring.
The below photo shows a selection of crowns that we will ship. Order is for one crown. The top will die down and new shoots will grow in spring.
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Growing Instructions
Turmeric thrives in warm, humid conditions with rich, fertile, free-draining soil. At KoruKai Herb Farm we grow our plants successfully in a glasshouse, where they receive consistent warmth, high humidity, and daily misting during the growing season. We previously grew them in a polytunnel, but found they perform significantly better under the warmer and more stable conditions of a glasshouse. In warmer parts of the North Island, turmeric may grow successfully outdoors in sheltered frost-free locations, although we recommend researching local conditions before planting. Plant the crown soon after receiving it into soil enriched with generous amounts of compost and organic matter. Position the rhizome just below the soil surface with any visible buds facing upwards.
Keep the soil evenly moist throughout spring and summer, but never waterlog it. A thick layer of organic mulch helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperatures.
During winter dormancy, greatly reduce watering, as excessive moisture around dormant rhizomes can cause rot.
Clearly mark the planting position, as the plant remains dormant for several months before emerging once soil temperatures increase in spring. Ours show their first shoots in December.
Harvesting
Turmeric is generally ready to harvest once the foliage is starting to get yellow and die back in late autumn or winter. Carefully lift the rhizome clump and remove the larger mature rhizomes for cooking or preserving, leaving the central crown intact for replanting. Healthy crowns naturally increase in size each season and often develop multiple growing points, allowing them to be divided after one or two years to produce additional plants. With good care, turmeric becomes increasingly productive over time.
Culinary Uses
Fresh turmeric has a warm, earthy flavour with subtle citrus and ginger notes. It can be grated, sliced, or finely chopped into curries, soups, stir-fries, rice dishes, smoothies, herbal teas, and fresh juices. It also combines beautifully with ginger, black pepper, garlic, and coconut milk, and is widely used to prepare golden milk, spice pastes, fermented tonics, and pickles.
Fresh rhizomes can also be dried and ground into turmeric powder for long-term storage.
*This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using medicinal herbs therapeutically.
Home grown turmeric. Yummy!
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