Growing Taro, also Dasheen, cocoyam

Colocasia esculenta : Araceae / the arum or lily family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions

  • Plant small pieces of tuber or suckers, 5-8cm deep. Best planted at soil temperatures between 68°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 31 inches apart
  • Harvest in approximately 28 weeks. When the leaves begin to die down. .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in separate bed
  • Taro plant (commons.wikimedia.org - Kahuroa - Public Domain)
  • Taro Leaf (Japanese Taro)
  • Taro root

NB: Make sure that you plant EDIBLE Taro, some varieties that are grown as ornamental plants are not edible and can have unpleasant results if eaten. There is some useful information here http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_coes.pdf Taro grows to about 1 m (3 ft) and has long, green, heart-shaped leaves on long stalks. Taro grows well in warm/hot, humid areas - it needs a long growing time, frost free and lots of water. Keep well watered. Dryness will stop growth. Grow in full sun.

Taro is damaged by cold or frosty weather. Lift the tubers and store in a cool dry place.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Taro

Taro can be cooked like potatoes, boiled, roasted, fried or steamed. It is not eaten raw.

Your comments and tips

04 Apr 22, T.Tau (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
When do i cut all my leaves back, or do i leave some leave on??
08 Apr 22, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Maybe just cut the dead ones off.
23 Sep 21, Daniel Faleolo (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Looking at planting maori taro to introduce to our whanau and hapu for food. Looking at a medium scale operation. Where can I source taro? What recipes are available for taro? What nutrition value of taro grown in NZ? Looking at 200> operation
28 Sep 21, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Ring your agricultural department about growing it.
12 Jul 21, Elsa Keyte (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi. Do Taro prefer a firm base or can a well worked garden be ok? Many thanks Elsa & Graham Keyte
21 Jul 21, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Good deep soil if growing a root crop.
01 Feb 21, Donna (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi there can you tell me please where I can buy edible taro plants ? I live in feilding
02 Feb 21, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Try seed selling companies.
01 Jan 21, Lole Junior Gaugau (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
i want to start growing up north island just need to know where i can get some to grow
05 Jan 21, B (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Look up NZ seed selling websites.
Showing 1 - 10 of 18 comments

Look up NZ seed selling websites.

- B

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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