
See more

When is curcuma season?
5 Things You Need to Know About Curcuma. It's curcuma season here at Costa Farms (we typically send them to stores in late May, June, July, and August), and that means we're getting lots of questions about these spectacular plants. Here are five curcuma facts to help you enjoy yours at home. Perfect for Pots?
Can you plant curcuma in a pot?
You can plant curcuma in garden beds and borders or enjoy it as a potted plant. Happily, it thrives either way! If you plant it in the ground, you’ll find your curcuma does best in moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter.
Do curcumas go dormant?
Curcumas don’t make for great houseplants because they naturally go dormant (lose their leaves and flowers) when the days get short. So while you can display it in a bright window during the summer months, come fall, the plant will appear to die back and you’ll be left with an empty pot until late spring.
How much aldicarb is used in Weifang?
The CCTV report said farmers in Weifang had been using 120 to 300kg of the pesticide per hectare, nearly three to six times above the level considered safe. One farmer interviewed by CCTV said she was aware of aldicarb’s toxicity and did not use it on ginger that her family ate.
Why do you grow your own ginger?
One reason to grow your own ginger is you don’t always know how store-bought ginger is being produced:
Is ginger edible?
Edible Gingers. Many of the ornamental varieties are edible in certain ways. For example, butterfly ginger ( Hedychium coronarium) is reported to have edible roots and blooms. Shampoo ginger ( Zingiber zerumbet) has edible roots but they taste bitter and are not worth eating. Trust me.
Is ginger good for tea?
Common ginger and its cousin turmeric are edible in all their parts, so if you have those – use them however you like. The leaves are coarse in texture, so they’re not good in salads, but they are good to add seasoning to dishes and for tea.
Is aldicarb used on ginger?
An investigative report by China Central Television (CCTV), which aired on Saturday, discovered farmers in Weifang city had been using the pesticide aldicarb “three to six times” above the recommended level. The pesticid e is not approved for use on ginger.
Is cardamom ginger a real cardamom?
I’ve tried them. The “cardamom ginger” often sold in Florida ( Alpinia calcarata ), though it’s not the true cardamom, has leaves that have an earthy flavor and can be used like bay or cumin. Shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) has leaves that make a tasty tea.
Can you use aldicarb on ginger?
The pesticide is not approved for use on ginger. Aldicarb – branded in China as Shennongdan – is a highly poisonous carbamate pesticide that the Ministry of Agriculture says can be only used on cotton, tobacco, peanuts, roses and sweet potatoes, albeit under strict controls.
More About This Tropical Plant
The clustered flowers of Curcuma plants are vibrant from summer to fall but it’s during the spring season when they are most remarkable. The plant is underdeveloped in this period. It is like pot luck when buying them as you never know what to expect.
Curcuma Plant Care
Before we get to the meticulous care of the Curcuma, here is a shortlist of everything you need to grow these attractive flowers.
Curcuma Varieties
The spice turmeric foliage grows up to three inches with pinecone-shaped flowers. The exciting thing is the blooms nestles inside the leaves.
Curcuma Diseases & Pests
Curcuma pests that can be of major concern are the shoot borer and scale causing an infestation in your plants.
How to grow ginger in the fall?
Reduce soil moisture loss and prevent weed growth by spreading a 1-inch-deep layer of peat moss or other organic mulch over the ground surrounding the hidden ginger plant. The stems of these plants will rot if they come in direct contact with the mulch, so move it back from the stems. The foliage will yellow and then become dry and brown in the fall. Wait until the leaves dry to allow the rhizome time to store energy before trimming the leaves off at ground level with a pair of pruning shears.
How much space does curcuma ginger need?
Planting Curcuma Ginger. The curcuma ginger plant grows best in full to partial shade and sandy or loamy, fast-draining soils. They require 2 to 3 feet of space, depending upon the variety, to accommodate their mature spread. Position the rhizome horizontally in the planting hole.
What is a curcuma ginger?
Growing Tips for Curcuma Ginger. Curcuma gingers (Curcuma spp.), commonly called hidden gingers, produce spikey flowers in bright red, yellow, pink, orange or white. These herbaceous perennials add a tropical look to the landscape with their dark green, sword-shaped leaves.
How to grow hidden ginger?
Hidden ginger rhizomes will grow and multiply as the plants remain in the ground. Every two to three years, or when the plant outgrows its location, hidden ginger plants benefit from division to rejuvenate their growth. Division and re-planting is most successful during the spring, just before new leaf growth. Dig carefully around the rhizomes to avoid cutting or injuring them with a shovel. When breaking the rhizomes apart, make sure each new piece contains at least one growth node, or round knob, and a portion of crown. Replant the rhizomes immediately to prevent them from drying out.
When do ginger plants need water?
Hidden ginger plants require no water during their dormant period, which begins in fall, once their foliage dies back. A monthly application of 20-20-20 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium slow-release fertilizer throughout the active growing season will keep the plant supplied with nutrients.
What are some edible ornamental ginger varieties?
There are many ginger varieties that are edible, and many of them are listed below.
What family is ginger in?
This is a member of the costaceae family of gingers. The more common edible components of this plant are the flowers. The rhizomes may also be used but apparently lack much of the ginger bite that the common ginger offers.
What is a ginger plant?
Gingers are a fantastic landscaping plant that can provide privacy, cut flowers, shade, and some spectacular colors. This article is about helping the gardener choose a variety of ginger that can provide some of the above attributes while being edible at the same time.
What is the root of ginger called?
It is also called finger root at times. It has historical use throughout East Asia as a food source, and as a medicinal plant. The root, or rhizome is different to most other gingers in that this plant has carrot like tubers that grow downwards like the fingers of a hand pushing into the soil.
How tall does ginger get?
This ginger can get tall at 10ft but depending on the location can be far lower. They are a good looking plant that is used extensively in landscaping. This is probably because the leaves can be striking with variegated stripes that are random in pattern.
What is Japanese ginger?
Also known as Japanese ginger, this plants edible history is of the flowers and young soft shoots being used in meals.
Where does ginger come from?
The ginger family Zingiberaceae is a pantropically distributed plant group that originates in the tropics of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, with their greatest diversity in Asia, particularly the south east regions. It consists of approximately 50 genera that makes up over 1600 species.
How to use turmeric and ginger?
How to use ginger and turmeric. There are plenty of ways to add ginger and turmeric to your diet to enjoy the many health benefits each has to offer. The two ingredients work well together in salad dressings, stir-fries, and sauces to add a surge of flavor and health benefits to your favorite recipes.
What is ginger and turmeric used for?
Here’s our process. Ginger and turmeric are two of the most extensively studied ingredients in herbal medicine. Interestingly, both have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, ranging from migraines to chronic inflammation and fatigue. ).
What are the two types of flowering plants that are widely used in natural medicine?
Ginger and turmeric are two types of flowering plants that are widely used in natural medicine.
Why do people take turmeric and ginger?
Many people take turmeric and ginger at the first sign of sickness, hoping to enhance immune function and sidestep cold or flu symptoms.
What is fresh ginger used for?
Fresh ginger can also be used to make ginger shots, brewed into a cup of soothing tea, or added to soups, smoothies, and curries. ). Turmeric, on the other hand, is great for adding a pop of color to dishes such as casseroles, frittatas, dips, and dressings. ).
What is the best spice to use in a dish?
Turmeric, on the other hand, is great for adding a pop of color to dishes such as casseroles, frittatas, dips, and dressings. Ideally, you should pair turmeric with a dash of black pepper, which can help boost its absorption in your body by up to 2,000% ( 38. Trusted Source.
Does curcumin cause diarrhea?
In high doses, curcumin has been associated with side effects like rashes, headaches, and diarrhea ( 37. Trusted Source. ). Finally, though research on the potential health effects of both ginger and turmeric is plentiful, evidence on how the two may affect health when used together is limited.
