People who enjoy Indian cuisine often have a taste for turmeric, because it is a key ingredient in curry. Turmeric, which is a close relative of culinary ginger, grows from rhizomes that resemble ginger roots. Although ginger and turmeric plants have similar appearances as they grow in the soil, turmeric has a milder flavor than ginger, and it is a less common spice.
Select a turmeric root from the produce section of a grocery store. Break off the small sections of the turmeric root for planting. Each section must have a bud (an eye) somewhere on the piece.
Prepare the sunny planting area by cultivating the soil with the garden spade down to a depth of 6 inches. Add 2 inches of compost to the top of the soil, and work this in well with the garden soil. Rake the soil smooth with the rake.
Dig shallow holes for the turmeric root pieces with the trowel, planting them approximately 2 to 3 inches beneath the soil. Space the turmeric pieces approximately 10 inches apart in the growing area.
Water the soil over the newly planted turmeric roots generously, immediately after planting the turmeric. Keep the soil evenly moist while the rhizomes are growing, but do not water to the point of puddles.
Fertilize turmeric for the first time when the plants are between 4 and 6 inches tall. Mix the fertilizer with water according to package recommendations for the size of your growing area. Pour the fertilizer over the soil carefully without splashing fertilizer onto the plant foliage.