Growing your own spices

Just visited an organic ginger farm today in preparation for an article about growing ginger in Hawaii and learned a lot of new things ...........I also learned some things about turmeric and will be sharing more information on uses soon

For now I want to share photos of the fresh tender ginger given to us today by Hugh, a very knowledgeable ginger grower, and to show what a clump of turmeric looks like.

Fresh and tender ginger - this is the kind of ginger used for pickling that is served more commonly with sushi. We were also told today that you can infuse honey with this tender ginger....should be great for sweetening teas!

Ginger has both culinary and medicinal uses.

Clump of turmeric given to us by another friend. We will be dividing the clump into the little pieces and using them for "seed' to plant our new white turmeric patch. We have one already that blooms with pink flowers.

Turmeric is also used extensively for both culinary and medicinal uses. It is also used for dyeing clothing as it stains everything it touches a beautiful shade of yellow...

I'm writing an article on growing ginger in Hawaii for publication in a Hawaii foodie magazine and will share it after it is published.

Comments: 33

Priscilla (wishing I was in Costa Rica) ~. Oct 13, 2009, 10:35pm EDT

Wonderful pictures of it all!

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 1:46pm EDT

Thank you, Priscilla!

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Carol N. Oct 13, 2009, 10:48pm EDT

Whoa..just found this website...great article Sonia!!

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 1:47pm EDT

Glad you found it, Carol....I have a lot of articles about tropicals in this site...

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Donald H. Oct 13, 2009, 10:52pm EDT

Great article Sonia...!!!!

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 1:47pm EDT

Gracias, Doc!

Donald H. Oct 14, 2009, 4:39pm EDT

De nada Senora!

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flit . Oct 13, 2009, 11:19pm EDT

I DETEST ginger... the taste of it I mean ... but the pictures look great anyway

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 1:47pm EDT

LOL, flit.....I cannot imagine detesting ginger.....I love it!

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elizabeth e. Oct 13, 2009, 11:21pm EDT

It's always interesting to me to see how these various spices that come in jars really grow in the garden. I would like to know more about the medicinal uses of both ginger and tumeric. I imagine the ginger (like ginger ale) is used to settle upset tummies.

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 1:49pm EDT

Also good for soothing sore throats and warding off colds, Bob!

Are you back home?
I need to just go in one day and read all of your articles about your wonderful Oz visit in one sitting....
I promise I will....I have been wanting to since you started them...

elizabeth e. Oct 17, 2009, 4:27am EDT

I'm still in Oz and will be till October 28th. I've been in Oz just under seven weeks. Figured if I made that horrendous flight, I should stay for awhile. Never know if I will ever get back here.

Sonia M. Oct 17, 2009, 12:15pm EDT

WOW...I didn't realize you were staying that long....how fun!
I guess I better start reading then....I'm sure it will take me a while to catch up!

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Faith H. Oct 14, 2009, 6:05am EDT

I love the photos, Sonia, it makes it all so tempting to try and grow it, then I remember what a brown thumb I have.

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 1:50pm EDT

Faith, I have a brown thumb when it comes to sprouting seeds...I do better with rootings, rhizomes and small plants than seeds

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Richard Frisbie Oct 14, 2009, 11:19am EDT

Every once in awhile I have to buy fresh ginger and shred it on everything - until I finally fill the need for a ginger fix - then nothing for awhile - until next time.
Looks as if it would be fun to grow tumeric - you'll post pictures of the flowers, I hope.

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 1:51pm EDT

Yes, Richard, I will.........they are so pretty. I have pink ones we transplanted from our Inn yard to this property. I just got white ones recently and am in search of the blue ones....

Richard Frisbie Oct 14, 2009, 2:00pm EDT

pink, white, blue - I have to see them

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 2:06pm EDT

Yellow and other colors also, I believe, Richard....
Do a google for Turmeric blooms or catch a sight HERE

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Katrina Hall Oct 14, 2009, 8:54pm EDT

Amazing pictures of those spices I love. beautiful, Sonia!

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 9:11pm EDT

Thank you, Kat!

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Sue * Oct 14, 2009, 10:45pm EDT

That is interesting. I stick with basil and rosemary.

Sonia M. Oct 14, 2009, 11:46pm EDT

I like basil and rosemary too, Sue, but I love using other herbs and spices also.....!

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ashley y. Oct 15, 2009, 12:52am EDT

wow. how interesting.

Sonia M. Oct 15, 2009, 2:07am EDT

Thank you, Ashley!

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alexis Goebel Oct 17, 2009, 7:37am EDT

Very cool...Is it possible to grow either in cooler climates? I've picked my own coriander (my cilantro had bolted) and loved the fresh, green flavor, as if it retained the qualities of both coriander and cilantro. Would like to try a curry leaf plant in the near future

Sonia M. Oct 17, 2009, 12:17pm EDT

I'm not sure Alexis....I doubt you can grow either in the garden as they are tropicals, but you might be able to grow some in large pots and bring them in or else much them heavily if outdoors in the ground and cover with blankets or something....Heated greenhouse would work...

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Madame Donna C. Oct 18, 2009, 2:24pm EDT

Sonia, that's one of the things I love about your island. The roots and flowers of all those wonderful plants that can be decorative, aromatic, medicinal and food! Those are plants that pack a punch!

Sonia M. Oct 18, 2009, 2:28pm EDT

The beauty of living in the tropics, Donna! Of course, there are advantages to living anywhere else....but I'm so glad to live where I am "totally" convinced 'the grass is greener'....;-)

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Duckie 1 Oct 23, 2009, 11:16am EDT

Oh wow... what a fabulous picture of ginger... so fresh! I love pickled ginger with my sushi. Yum!

I don't think I've ever seen turmeric rhizomes before. I didn't even know they grew like that. I always thought the spice came from the seeds, like black pepper? Thanks Sonia, I learned something new today!

Sonia M. Oct 23, 2009, 2:24pm EDT

I used some of the tender ginger to make into pickles and some is now in a big jar with honey to infuse it. I also used some to make ginger tea.

Turmeric is an interesting plant. The variety we've had for several years blooms almost before the leaves come up in/around April, so you see mostly the gorgeous pink blossom with some green unfurled green leaf spikes coming up....but the white variety given to us different was blooming with completely open leaves around it and still blooming in October! So hopefully we might have blooms at different times of year....I'm on a quest for the ice blue ones!

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