How to Grow Taro From a Corm
Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a native plant of Southeastern Asia. The plant is used as an ornamental planting, given its 2- to 3-foot-long, heart-shaped foliage, while the root is a major food crop in Japan, China and the West Indies. It is commonly referred to as the potato of the tropics. Other common names for taro include elephant ear, cocoyam and dasheen. Taro grows from large, thick, tuberous roots called corms or mammy. There are nearly 200 different types of taro, cites the Floridata website. It is easy to grow taro as long as you provide the corms with the proper growing conditions. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Select a site in a partially shaded area. The soil should be well-drained, with a preferred pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
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Till the site and clear all weeds and any stones. Sprinkle a cup of 16-16-16 fertilizer over 50 square feet of the planting site. Mix the fertilizer with the soil, using a garden fork.
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Cut a section from a taro corm to a depth of about 1 inch, making sure there are at least a couple of leaves attached to the corm section. Place the corm section in a cool, dry place to dry for a day.
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Dig a 3-inch-deep planting hole and set the corm. Fill the planting hole with soil and water it well. If you are planting more than one corm, space plants approximately 1-½ feet apart. Keep the planting site free of weeds, and water regularly to keep the soil moist.
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Fertilize the plant with a cup of 16-16-16 fertilizer for every 50 square feet of space every two months.
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Tips & Warnings
Harvest edible taro corms when the above ground foliage starts to yellow. Often you will see the mature corm or root start to push through the ground. Remove the corms over the next few weeks and store in fridge after washing and drying. Propagate new plants by taking 1-inch long sections from the top of the harvested corms and planting again. (Reference 2)
References
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