Last week we shared all about WHY we grow ginger and turmeric and this week we wanted to share HOW we grow ginger and turmeric.
We start with super high quality seed that we purchase from an organic farm in Hawaii. The seeds are essentially small roots and they arrive in the dead of winter. They are very sensitive to the cold, so we plant them into big seed trays right away and place the trays in a warm, dark spot to encourage sprouting. Greg waters them once a week and fusses to make sure the soil conditions are just right. The little shoots eventually pop out of the soil and then it’s a waiting game until April or May when they are strong/big enough to be transplanted outside.
If we planted the sprouts directly into the ground they would likely die during those cold April/May nights. So, instead, we plant them into a 80-foot long high-tunnel that we built specifically for these crops. The high-tunnel (which is essentially a green-house without the heater) allows us to keep the air and soil warm and prevents the plants from being damaged by the wind. They require a lot of attention at this stage, too, with frequent weeding and irrigating and temperature regulating until they are ready to harvest 4 months later.
Harvest time is usually in early September (or maybe late August…) and it is a busy time on the farm. When we pull the large plants out of the ground, each ginger/turmeric root is covered in dirt and has tons of smaller fibrous side-shoots (imagine hard pipe-cleaners or tough pieces of spaghetti) all around it. We cut these off and carefully clean the roots so they are ready to bring to market.
It takes us about half of a year to grow ginger and turmeric and many hours to harvest and clean (which is probably why most farmers don’t bother with growing this stuff!). But, for us, growing these plants is a challenge and an opportunity that we relish. It’s the only produce we grow and it has a special place in our hearts.
Your Farmers,
Greg and Jenney
PS- Next week, we will share how to store fresh ginger and turmeric so that you can use the good stuff year-round (No more buying the dead cured stuff grown overseas from the grocery store. YAY!). We are making videos and can’t wait to share our best tips and tricks with you soon!