There is nothing more aromatic, tender, and delicious than freshly harvested, Minnesota grown, organic ginger and turmeric, both of which are spices. In the store you will usually find only the root, but the stalks and leaves of both plants are equally delicious.
LEAVES AND STEMS ARE EDIBLE AND DELICIOUS. First, don’t throw out the stalks and leaves as they are also edible. At minimum you can make some incredible ginger or turmeric tea, but also use them sliced up and added to stirfrys or used to infuse flavor into baked goods. The easiest thing to do is to ask Chef Google “how to use ginger stalks and leaves” or “how to use turmeric stalks and leaves” in recipes and you’ll find quite a nice list of fun ways to prepare it.
CLEANING THE ROOTS For the root of both ginger and turmeric, be sure to clean it well as the crevices to get full of dirt. Once cleaned, of course the root can be used in any way you like to use fresh ginger or turmeric. But if it is more than you can use up in about a week, you can just slice it up and freeze it into portions that work for you.
HEALTH BENEFITS Both spices, are not only delicious, but they both have many health benefits. Here is a quick overview of the health benefits of ginger and the health benefits of turmeric.
GROWING GINGER AND TURMERIC Many people asked if the live plants you took home can be replanted and continue to grow. The answer is yes, but it will take some time and effort to stabilize and begin to grow again. If you’re game to give it a try, here is what you can do:
Be sure to put each plant in a very well-drained large pot, giving them lots of room for the roots to grow. Use a basic potting soil, and allow the soil to dry between waterings. When you first transplant them, they will go through a shock after being uprooted, transported, then repotted. The turmeric plants may need to be staked up until the roots grow strong and it is upright and stable. So be patient as it may take several weeks for the plant to begin to regenerate.
Put the potted plants in a south window with lots of natural light, and throughout the winter be sure to spritz the plants to give them some humidity. When the plants begin to flower, that means it has reached maturity. Be sure to clip off the flowers, then harvest the plants to enjoy.
Thank you for supporting our farm and we hope that you will enjoy your ginger!
