Well now it's about two and a half years since I planted turmeric. The pot grew vigorously all summer of 2013 and now the foliage has all died back. The soil is sunken and probably depleted so I have dumped it out and gently pried apart the plants. ;last winter there were many tiny round roots at the outside edges of the pot down deep. Not this time.All the roots sprout from the center of an older plant. The center plant is very large (pic) and I will use it for food. I am curious about the quality of the center bulb which is covered with a thin bark compared to the outer roots which look succulent though not as pink as the ones in the health food store. I broke a root and it doesn't smell as aromatic either. Maybe the lack of tropical sun. Three medium sized plants will go back in to the original pot with fresh soil and four small plants will start a second pot. I tried making dolmas out of the leaves last summer but they were way too fibrous though they flavored the stuffing nicely. I will try picking the leaves early when young this year before they toughen.

You can buy the edible roots at the grocery store and start your own to get Zingiber officinale. Look for fresh roots. You may have to go to an Asian markert for the Galangal roots. It is also called Thai ginger and has a hotter taste. The tumeric is a cucurma longa.The roots are more yellow. You should be able to find those if you have an East Indian market or world market.

It grows fine for me in Raleigh NC zone 7b. I drag it inside and pot it up in the winter. I store it inside a simple temporary greenhouse in a dormant state until the end of May then it goes back into the garden. It is very hardy and a robust grower.

there is no longer an ethnic market or asian market where I live and online sources all sell dried spices... Does anyone know an online source for galangal root and turmeric root that I can plant... many thanks