Turmeric and Ginger: How to Grow Nature’s Anti-Inflammatories in Florida

Walk into any pharmacy and you’ll see rows of supplements promising to fight inflammation. Two of the most popular ingredients are turmeric and ginger. But here’s the secret: you don’t need to buy them in capsules. If you live in Florida, you can grow both of these powerful roots right in your backyard. Fresh turmeric and ginger aren’t just stronger and more flavorful than store-bought powders they’re easy to grow, affordable, and they thrive in our hot, humid climate.

Turmeric and ginger are both tropical plants, which makes Florida one of the best places in the United States to grow them. They love warm temperatures, partial shade, and moist, well-drained soil. Think about where you’d normally grow ornamental gingers—turmeric and edible ginger fit right into the same spots. Once you plant them, they quietly spread underground, building big clumps of roots that can supply your kitchen for months.

Let’s start with turmeric. Known for its bright golden color, turmeric has been used for thousands of years in India for cooking and healing. The active compound, curcumin, has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In Florida, turmeric can be planted in spring once the soil warms up. You start with a rhizome, which looks like a chunk of fresh root. Place it in rich soil, cover lightly, and keep it consistently moist. By summer, you’ll see tall, lush green leaves, and if you’re lucky, even a beautiful flower spike. Harvest usually comes in fall or early winter when the leaves start to yellow. Each rhizome you plant can multiply into a handful of golden roots, enough to dry, grind, or use fresh.

Now, let’s talk about ginger. If turmeric is the golden healer, ginger is the fiery one. Known for its warming flavor and soothing effect on digestion, ginger has been a home remedy for nausea, colds, and inflammation for centuries. Growing ginger in Florida is almost the same as turmeric. You plant a fresh rhizome in spring, give it partial shade, and keep the soil moist. It loves humidity, so Florida’s summer rains are perfect. Ginger can be harvested as early as four to six months for tender young roots, or you can wait up to a year for a stronger, spicier harvest. The leaves and stalks even have a mild ginger flavor and can be used in teas and soups.

One of the best parts about growing turmeric and ginger is that they don’t need much space. You can grow them in containers, tucked into a shady corner of your food forest, or even as part of your landscape. They don’t scream “vegetable garden” the way tomatoes do they look like tropical ornamentals, but they’re working hard underground to build medicine for your family.

The payoff goes beyond saving money. When you grow your own, you know it’s fresh and chemical-free. You can harvest exactly what you need, when you need it. And instead of paying twenty dollars for a bottle of turmeric supplements, you can walk outside and dig up roots that cost you pennies.

Imagine making golden turmeric tea on a cool evening, or adding fresh ginger to a stir fry straight from your backyard. These aren’t just flavors they’re powerful natural remedies that help your body fight inflammation, support digestion, and boost immunity. And the best part? Florida’s climate makes it almost effortless once they’re established.

If you’ve never grown turmeric or ginger before, this season is the perfect time to start. Pick up a few fresh rhizomes from a nursery or even the grocery store, plant them in rich soil, and let Florida’s warmth do the rest. A year from now, you’ll have your own supply of two of nature’s strongest anti-inflammatory herbs.

Ready to grow your own healing roots? Subscribe to my GrowFitFL YouTube channel where I show you step by step how to plant turmeric and ginger and check out my book Grow Food Not Lawns for a full plan to turn your backyard into a food and medicine paradise.