Taro

Overview

Taro is grown for its starchy underground corm and its large, heart-shaped leaves. Some varieties are grown in flooded patches, others in moist upland soil. In a food forest, upland taro fits in the wet, partly shaded spots under bananas and along swales.

History

Taro is one of the oldest cultivated crops. It was domesticated in Southeast Asia and is a staple food across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Both the corms and the leaves are eaten, always cooked.

Growing on Kauaʻi

• Needs steady moisture; best on the wet side or where water collects, such as below swales or rain gardens.
• Upland (dryland) varieties grow in moist, rich, mulched soil; flooded patches are a specialized system.
• Tolerates partial shade under bananas and young trees.

Planting and propagation

• Plant the cut top of a harvested corm, with about ½ inch of corm and the base of the leaf stalks attached.
• Set it about 4–6 inches deep and 18–24 inches apart in moist, rich soil, then mulch well.
• Side shoots (keiki) can also be dug and replanted.

Care and maintenance

• Keep the soil consistently moist; taro wilts quickly in dry spells.
• Feed with compost and mulch regularly.
• Remove old, yellowing leaves and drop them as mulch.

Role in the guild

Taro grows in the moist understory of a staple-focused guild, beside banana and under young breadfruit.

Harvest

Corms are usually ready 9–12 months after planting, when the leaves get smaller and start to yellow. Young leaves can be harvested sooner, taking a few from each plant.

Uses

• Food: corms and leaves, always thoroughly cooked.
• Soil: spent leaves and stalks as mulch.

Important caution

Never eat taro raw. All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and throat. Corms and leaves must be thoroughly cooked. Wear gloves when peeling corms if your skin is sensitive.

Problems to watch

• Taro leaf blight in wet weather; remove affected leaves.
• Apple snails in wet patches.
• Corm rots in stagnant water or poorly drained upland soil.

General guidance for Kauaʻi; conditions vary by site. Check any new plant at plantpono.org before planting.