Turmeric: Cultivation And Use

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Do you like growing pepper and dill in a room garden? Would you like to diversify your seasoning plantings with such a spicy plant as turmeric? This unusual perennial will be loved not only by fans of spicy food, but also by connoisseurs of ornamental plants in the interior. After all, among other things, the homemade variety of turmeric has a very interesting bright look

Features of homemade turmeric

Indoors, turmeric reaches a height of about 1 m. It has large, elongated, light green leaves on powerful short petioles. Their length can reach half a meter, and the width is about the size of a human palm.

The peduncle is relatively low, about 30 cm. At the top is a spike-shaped inflorescence of white fragrant flowers planted in the axils of stipules of light green, yellow and purple stipules.

A valuable culinary component is concentrated in thick tuberous rhizomes. They are about 3-4 cm in diameter, covered with scars that formed during the formation of leaves. The skin has a dirty yellow color and a characteristic strong aroma. And when cut, you can find the very sharp-tasting pulp.

Growing turmeric at home

Keeping turmeric in a room is not a big deal. It is not the most demanding plant in terms of lighting. But in the winter months, it is not recommended to keep the flower pot away from windows. In the warm season, in addition to watering, fertilizing should be carried out. For this, a mullein solution is used from April to October.

The perennial needs a transplant. This procedure is repeated every 2-3 years. A nutritious soil mixture is prepared from the following ingredients:

• sheet land - 2 parts;

• soddy - 1 hour;

• humus - 1 hour;

• sand - 1 tsp.

The plant is propagated at home in a vegetative way - by rhizome cuttings. They are rooted in a container of sand. For the process to be successful, the room temperature must be maintained at + 20 … + 22? С.

Spice preparation and application of turmeric

Preparing a fresh and natural seasoning is not that difficult. For this, the crop of rhizomes must be thoroughly washed and poured over with boiling water. This is followed by a long process of drying raw materials. At first, the rhizome is soft, and its tissues have a golden yellow hue. But in the course of natural biochemical processes during drying, the natural dye spreads through all tissues of the rhizome, and it acquires its own "corporate" shade. The brighter the color is, the more the spice is appreciated. Well, the fact that the raw materials are ready for use is signaled by the hardening of turmeric. Now it can be ground into powder and used as directed.

Turmeric is used by humans in a wide variety of areas of life. It has found its application not only in culinary recipes, but also in medicine, cosmetology, perfumery, and industry.

Turmeric is a good natural coloring agent. At the same time, it is harmless, therefore it is used to give a beautiful appetizing orange and yellow shade to various products: margarine, cheese, mustard. The properties of the spice to impart a spicy taste and a beautiful golden color are used in the preparation of sauces and pates, recipes for meat and fish dishes. These qualities are also inherent in saffron, but turmeric is significantly cheaper. But still, among the people, it has earned the honorary name "Indian saffron".

The substances contained in turmeric stimulate the stomach and generally help to improve the digestion process. It will help the production of bile and gastric juice. So spiced dishes not only look more attractive, but literally help to awaken the appetite while eating. In addition, the plant is used in medicine in the treatment of liver and gall bladder, kidney diseases.