Dear Giridhar,

There is much to say about the germination of turmeric. Here are some thoughts.

Turmeric requires warm and humid climate. It can be grown in most tropical and subtropical regions, provided rainfall is adequate (1000-2000 mm) or that can be irrigated. Precipitation of 1200-1400 mm well distributed over one hundred to one hundred and twenty days are ideal. The culture was extended to areas where rainfall exceeds 2,000 mm. Turmeric is grown up to 1200 m altitude in the foothills of the Himalayas but it grows best at altitudes between 450 and 900 m. Optimum temperatures are from 30 to 35 ° C during boot 25 to 30 ° C during the tillering of 20 to 25 ° C during the initiation of the rhizomes and from 18 to 20 ° C for development. Turmeric grows on various types of soil but prefers fertile silt or clay, well drained, furniture and friable, rich in organic matter and pH 5 to 7.5. He can not stand waterlogging or alkaline soils. Gravelly, stony and heavy are not suitable for the development of rhizomes. Affectionate shadow, he comes well in partial shade and can be grown under fruit trees. The multiplication of turmeric is vegetatively by rhizomes. We use usually mothers rhizomes, whole or cut into pieces, and girls rhizomes (fingers). As reproductive material, the mother rhizomes are better than girls. However, it was also established that large girls germinated better and rhizomes had higher yields than those of the mothers. The fingers are stored more easily, better tolerate wet soils and can be planted at a lower density.

The rhizomes should be stored two to three months between harvest and planting. For this, the spread in a thin layer under a blanket of turmeric leaves or is stored in a heap under a layer of straw and soil. The field must be well prepared by plowing or digging, turning the earth until about 30 cm deep, in order to get a good topsoil. Large quantities of organic fertilizers (farmyard manure, oilseed cake, green leaves) are usually applied. The optimum would be around 25 tonnes / hectare of manure or compost and 65 kg / ha of nitrogen.

With my best regards

Prof. Bachir ACHOUR

Select best mother plant having good yielder, quality tuber and free of any disease. Then try to plant in a well prepared beds having well drained soils. Avoid planting the tuber in waterlogged areas and saline soils. Do not put the rhizomes very deep i.e over 30 cm or shallow planting i.e below 25 cm .Hot humid areas are best for its establishment, growth and yield. Thanks

I here present the origin of the question. I kept turmeric rhizomes in a plastic container for a few months in my room with plenty of natural light. It did begin to sprout, but a few mm growth it stopped. Observing this, I kept the container in darkness for a few days, then there was growth of sprout and some roots. Then I put it in a pot, watered, it germinated. I want to know the exact factors that induce the sprouting and rooting before the rhizomes are sown in soil.

Ok. Do you have information about the condition of your rhizome i.e dormancy, season? please trace back such issues as they do have significant influence on the germination of turmeric. thanks