Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, nestled in the heart of the
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, is your home-away-from-home. Not only does is
it offer breathtaking views, fabulous food and luxury accommodation,
but their gardens leave guests inspired, ready to transform their own
upon their arrival home. Not only are the gardens pristine, colourful
and beautiful to look at, but they are also functional, especially
their food gardens.
Introducing the perfect pair, G & T (and no we’re not talking about
gin and tonic), the ancient spice and perennial herb that belongs to
the Zingiberaceae family – Ginger and Turmeric.
Although each is great alone, they’re even better together. Their
union has been flaunted and it’s no wonder as they prove to be a
potent combination. Specifically in cold-pressed immunity shots that
have gained extreme popularity since the COVID outbreak. A mere cough
will have you adding one of these vitamin packed shots to your basket.
Ginger also goes by the name of Zingiber officinale. Ginger is the
star ingredient in gingerbread, ginger ale and speculaas, plus an
accompaniment to sushi. If the sheer enjoyment of it all isn’t enough
there are also the medicinal benefits dear ginger offers. It has been
known to boost the immune system, thus aiding seasonal coughs and
colds. Come flu season, ginger will be infused in a variety of
homemade concoctions due to its antimicrobial, antibacterial, and
antifungal properties. It is often used in detox diets as it aids in
weight loss and reportedly helps with indigestion too.
Turmeric- Curcuma longa- has a long-standing history with Ayurveda and
India, but it was long used by ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans
as food, natural dye, and as a cosmetic ingredient. With an
outstanding past, its current popularity is no surprise. Over and
above being a staple spice in South African kitchens and in kitchens
the world over, turmeric is a natural wonder and is being used in face
masks, lattes and to dye fabrics sustainably. A powerful spice known
for its vibrant colour, unique flavour, and for making one glow from
the inside out.
Not only are turmeric and ginger healthy for you, but they also add
beauty to the garden. Plus, they are really easy to grow and you’ll
love harvesting these organic treasures from your own soil.
Ginger and turmeric are both rhizomes and require well-draining soil
with plenty of sand and compost. This combination provides the perfect
medium for them to grow in. You’ll want to grow your ginger in a
semi-shade position and your turmeric in full sun, however afternoon
shade is acceptable. These are also long-season crops and will take at
least a full season to get going – plant in February/March to harvest
the following year in February/March. More often, people leave their
roots in the ground and only harvest in the second season. This will
give you much sturdier plants and three times the roots than if you
only waited one year. The choice, naturally, is yours.
Ginger and turmeric are tropical plants that will do well in any
frost-free area. If you get frost, then planting them into a pot is
highly recommended so that you can move it when winter arrives. If
planted in pots (at least 30cm deep), they will require watering every
two to three days. When planted in the ground, you should water every
three to four days.
Grow your ginger 5-10cm beneath the soil and your turmeric 8cm beneath
the soil. Space each rhizome 30cm apart to give them room to grow to
their full potential. You can harvest your ginger once the leaves
begin to yellow and wilt (usually 8 months after planting). Both G &
T’s leaves, flowers and roots are edible so you can incorporate all
parts of the plants into your meals.
You’ll need patience with your turmeric as it establishes itself. Once
established, you can harvest pieces of root off the side of the plant
throughout summer. Also, look out for the swoon-worthy flowers that
turmeric offers at the base of the plant. Enjoy the flowers and know
that as soon as they die down, you can harvest your own organic roots.
Make sure to save some to replant – this is one crop you can harvest
and then replant immediately.
These plants are hungry and will repay you handsomely if you feed them
well. For best results, mulch with compost. A handful of Talborne Vita
Green in spring and then a handful of Vita Grow or Pokon Vegetable
Garden Bio Fertiliser in early summer will set you up for a great
harvest. Plant them in soil that has been thoroughly enriched with
compost or other organic matter and mulch them deeply. Water stress
will see the plants producing smaller, more fibrous roots. If you
encounter any pests we recommend Biogrow Bioneem.
Once harvested, you can consume G & T fresh, or store it in the fridge
or freezer. To make your own powders, cut the rhizomes into slices and
leave them to dry before grinding in a spice or coffee grinder.
Turmeric is a natural dye, so you will want to handle it with care
unless are keen to turn your world yellow.
Immunity Shot Recipe
Ingredients:
· Ginger and turmeric
· Lemon and pepper
· Apple juice (optional)
Method:
- Clean your organically grown turmeric and ginger well. You can
peel the skin off if you desire. - Juice the turmeric.
- Juice the ginger.
- Juice the lemon after peeling the skin off or use lemon juice.
- Mix everything and add the black pepper, as it activates the
benefits from the turmeric. - Store in little glass vials and keep refrigerated for up to 7 days.
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