Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: nijjhar on June 04, 2019, 15:11

Title: Can you grow sweet potatos, ginger, turmeric, etc. plants?
Post by: nijjhar on June 04, 2019, 15:11
Hi,

I would appreciate to know what types of tropical herbs you can grow in your allotment? I am from the Punjab.
Title: Re: Can you grow sweet potatos, ginger, turmeric, etc. plants?
Post by: mumofstig on June 04, 2019, 16:23
You can buy seed tubers for sweet potatoes early in the year - but most people grow them in polytunnels, I think.
You can grow ginger in pots in a greenhouse, I'm not sure about turmeric.
Title: Re: Can you grow sweet potatos, ginger, turmeric, etc. plants?
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on June 04, 2019, 16:27
I've got a small ginger plant potted up in the polytunnel right now, seems to be doing ok so far.
I'd love to try tumeric but I suspect even the hottest Summer wouldn't be enough for it to grow productively.
Title: Re: Can you grow sweet potatos, ginger, turmeric, etc. plants?
Post by: Auntiemogs on June 10, 2019, 13:17
I grew tumeric as an experiment last year.  Unfortunately, it took so long to sprout that it didn't have time to grow flowers, but I did successfully overwinter it on my kitchen windowsill. 

If you buy some organic tubers (I bought some from a Chinese wholesaler which weren't marked as organic and gave them a good wash), pot them up and keep them warm, they should sprout.  It took mine around 6-8 weeks, and I'm sure they will do quite well in a greenhouse.

AM :-)
Title: Re: Can you grow sweet potatos, ginger, turmeric, etc. plants?
Post by: DHM on June 11, 2019, 07:10
Im trying to sprout some turmeric rhizomes at the moment, and they don't seem as keen to sprout from the nodules as Ginger does. I bought the rhizomes from the fresh herb section in a well known upmarket supermarket. I read that some suppliers spray the rhizomes with a growth inhibitor to stop sprouting and increase their shelf life so maybe that's the issue. Next batch I try will be soaked in water overnight and scrubbed before 'chitting'.
Title: Re: Can you grow sweet potatos, ginger, turmeric, etc. plants?
Post by: hasbeans on June 11, 2019, 20:47
Like DHM I've just started ginger and turmeric.  No sign of life yet but I've got them outside and it's been cold and wet since planting.  Fully expecting them to rot and trying again in a months time!
Title: Re: Can you grow sweet potatos, ginger, turmeric, etc. plants?
Post by: Auntiemogs on June 12, 2019, 11:38
I had my tumeric in a heated propagator and it still took around 6 weeks to get going, so warmth and patience seem to be key (and keeping the tubers from rotting!).  Ginger and lemon grass are much easier (in my limited experience).