Grow your own tropical turmeric
Turmeric must surely be one of the most researched plants of the decade. It’s reputed to fight inflammation, increase the antioxidant capacity of the body, improve brain function, and treat arthritis and depression. I give it to the dog and I’m confident it has improved her health issues. But in supplement form it can be pricey, so in the expectation that someone in our family of humans and animals will always need it, I plan to grow some. It’s a tropical plant in the same family as ginger, and looks a bit like it with long, green leaves and spiky flowers. It likes warm, humid conditions and if this summer is any indication, we’ve got the perfect climate for it. The plants can get to around 80cm tall and will slowly spread to form large clumps. You can buy turmeric from shops or markets to grow into your own plants, but it’s also available from some nurseries now. Plant it in a sunny spot, feed it with a good manure during the growing season and give it plenty of water. The roots take ages to grow but in the meantime you can use the leaves (they’re edible) to spice up fish and chicken. The rhizomes can be harvested when the plant is dormant. Dig them up, wrap in aluminium foil and they should keep in the fridge for a few weeks.