How to grow turmeric in a raised bed

Turmeric grows just like its cousin ginger — a leafy tropical rhizome for a long, warm season — and rewards you with vivid orange roots for curries and golden lattes.

Quick facts

• Position: part shade to full sun; loves warmth
• Spacing: 20–30 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 35 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 8–10 months

When should I plant turmeric?

Turmeric is frost-tender and needs a long warm season — plant fresh rhizome pieces in spring once the soil warms. Our free garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): September to November
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): October to November
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): Not really suited to this zone
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): September to January
• Arid inland: Not really suited to this zone

How do I grow turmeric in a raised bed?

Plant rhizome pieces a few centimetres deep in rich, moist, free-draining mix, in a warm, sheltered spot with some afternoon shade.

How often should I water and feed turmeric?

Keep the mix moist while it grows, then ease off as the foliage yellows in autumn.

What pests attack turmeric?

Keep an eye out for aphids — though most herbs are pleasingly pest-resistant. See our safe pest guide.

What are the common problems with turmeric?

The main one to watch is leaf spot, usually from damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow and morning watering prevent most.

What grows well with turmeric?

Grows happily beside ginger and lemongrass in a warm corner. See our companion planting guide.

When do I harvest turmeric?

Harvest once the leaves die down in autumn, digging the bright orange rhizomes. Save a few firm pieces to replant next spring.

More growing guides: ginger, lemongrass and Vietnamese mint.

Plan your patch: our free garden calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Thamizhpparithi Maari, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.