DIFFERENT WAYS TO ROOT TARO

The first thing to do is cut the Taro root into separate pieces. Which will allow you to root each peace. The top of the Taro root looks different from the bottom part. Usually, the top part has a bit of shoot coming through. Whereas the bottom part is just round, usually when you go to the shop to purchase some Taro they normally cut off the top bit that is starting to shoot. Then they would weigh the remainder of the root, which you would then purchase or pay for.

So when you decide to start planting or experimenting with your Taro. Remember to ask the shop keeper or where ever you purchase it. To make sure the tip shoot isn’t cut off or removed. Because that is the bit that you will be using to start off your plant. So you need to have a container with some water ready for placing your Taro root clipping into.

You then need to get a sharp knife and remove the shoot at a slight angle.

Cut the head of the shoot-off and place that in the water

Place the shoot in your water as shown in the picture on the right

Peel away the skin of the Taro as shown in the picture and place some of the skin in water. This skin will also start to sprout new shoots that you can plant at a later stage

The white bit of the Taro which is the flesh or meat part of the Taro, is kept for cooking. The bottom bit you can throw away or use it as compost material.

This is ready to be stored away. To allow it to sprout new shoots

The top of the main head of the plant will shoot out first. The skin will also sprout, tiny shoots but they maybe come out after the main head shoot, so be patient. So in a couple of days check the progress of the shoots and you should see changes taking place.

Grow Taro in Two Weeks – Result of Experiment Revealed

After 5 days you should be seeing some results. In the picture on the right, we have the root sprouting through from the experiment we carried out, growing our Taro from water. Has you can see we have nice healthy root system developing.

Re-potting Taro Shoots

At the time of re-potting these Taro shoot, we were on the 3rd of March. The weather outside in the UK is still cold. Ideally, if it was nice and warm outside we could transplant it straight into the soil with lots of running water close by. But that is not the case, so we will need to re-pot our Taro inside.

Image of two Taro shoots

So this is to demonstrate that anywhere on the plant you choose to root your Taro from. It can be done, you can use the skin of the Taro, or the head sprout, which is the quickest way for it to start sprouting.

You will need a large plant pot, to accommodate the root, because Taro plant roots develop and grow out very fast. And you do not want it to be too root bound before the weather starts heating up. And you are ready to put it outside.

Fill the pot up to halfway with multipurpose compost leaving some space for cocoa core or any easy draining soil or compost you can get your hand on. I combine these two types of soil to allow adequate drainage to take place.

Taro is a plant that will not survive if it does not get a lot of water, so as soon as the first through leaves start appearing you need to give it lots of water. Once you have placed the Taro plant on top of the first soil in the pot. You then need to add some cocoa core of free-flowing soil to the top and press down firmly. Finally, add some water to get rid of excess air pockets. Making sure that your plant pot has adequate drainage holes at the bottom. Also, make sure you are using a receptacle to catch any excess water that comes through the holes.

We are currently in March and the Taro will take all of the summer period to develop into food that we can dig up and eat. This is why it is important to get a head start by starting it indoors. And the thing about this plant is, it makes a beautiful house plant, so you get the best of both worlds.

Health Benefits of Taro

This simple root plant is loaded with vitamin B6, carbohydrates, manganese and magnesium to name a few. You can also use it as a substitute for regular potatoes to make mash, it can be baked or fried.

It is found in your local Asian or Caribbean shops. Just ask for Dasheen or Taro and they should have it in stock. For you to try your hands at planting these beautiful Elephant Ear Plants.

Last year I did not plan on planting any Taro, basically what happened was I bought some to eat as normal, but then decided to try and experiment with planting them. This was later on in the summer, so I did not have enough time, to nurture the plant to a point where it bore fruit. However, this year I am intentionally planting these plants in March to get a head start. So that by September or October, you should be harvesting some Taro.

So make sure to give them sufficient water and plant them in a soil that will drain easily.