I have been setting aside some turmeric and ginger rhizomes for growing next year. My understanding is the best ones to use are those with good growth nodules. In the photo below you can see clearly the nodules, they are the raised white lumps on the top and side of the rhizome.
Both of those nodules should shoot up foliage and eventually more rhizome should form behind them.
Well that’s the theory anyway. My hope is that this piece doesn’t rot before it gets warm enough to test the theory. I plan to start this one in water as I’m quite anxious to see the process first hand. The others I will start in situ which is what I’ve had success with in the past.
Hope they grow well for you
I’ve though about trying to grow garlic. It can’t be done in situ here. I’d have to use a pot and start early. Our season just isn’t warm enough or long enough.
I think its humidity that it really likes, and warmth, for quite a long time – I reckon you need a good 8-9 months of temps in the 20s, ideally 30s.
I’ll be interested to see how you get on with growing ginger and turmeric. I tried planting some ginger once, it produced leaves but no more root – maybe we don’t get warm enough weather for long enough here.
It grows here – just – Melbourne’s climate is getting increasingly humid over summer which means things like this have a chance – although they would appreciate a longer hot period. In all honesty unless you have a greenhouse I think it would really struggle as it prefers the tropics, but don’t let me put you off I fully believe in trying everything.
I’m definitely giving ginger a go this year. I bought one of those cheap greenhouse thingys from Bunnings so I can get tomatoes etc started early. The ginger can keep them company for a while.
And I wondered where my other glove had got to. Mystery solved!
He he, I too bought one of those cheap greenhouse things at the hideous superstore (along with a watering can that leaked as soon as I put in the water), and I think I’ll pot up some rhizomes today to whack in there. Ah – no wonder I can only ever find one glove, you’ve got the pair…
That photo is really creative, it is great.
Thanks Leanne, I think it probably needed better depth of field as the top of the rhizome is out of focus but otherwise I was happy with it. I have to admit the glove was an after thought as the ginger wouldn’t stand up without a bit of support.
I too love the photo Liz!!
I HAVE to try ginger and turmeric, but especially ginger. Fresh young ginger has a flavour all it’s own. Thanks for the inspiration. If you can do it in Melbourne, I sure as heck can do it in Sydney.
Absolutely – on both counts!