Taro, also known as kalo, is a nutritious and delicious root vegetable that has been cultivated for thousands of years. This adaptable plant thrives when grown in flooded conditions, making it the perfect candidate for aquatic gardening. With just a few simple supplies, you can easily learn how to grow taro in water right at home.
Taro goes by many names around the world. It is known as kalo in Hawaii gabi in the Philippines and colocasia in many English-speaking regions. There are over 150 varieties of taro plants available. The starchy corm that develops underground is the coveted edible portion, though leaves and stems of some varieties can also be eaten when cooked.
This ancient crop originated in Southern India and Southeast Asia before spreading across the Pacific Islands. Taro remains an essential part of cuisine and culture in Hawaii and other Pacific Island nations. It is now grown in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide. While taro can be cultivated in flooded paddies or garden beds, it adapts extremely well to growing in water-filled containers.
Why Grow Taro Aquatically?
Cultivating taro in flooded conditions provides several key benefits
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The water deters weed growth and controls pests.
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Taro grown in water often produces larger tubers.
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The aquatic environment delivers constant moisture to support vigorous growth.
Taro possesses specialized aerial roots that stretch above the water line to absorb oxygen. Underwater roots take up nutrients from the enriched soil below. This gives the taro plant everything it needs to flourish.
Choosing a Suitable Container
Taro can be grown in a variety of water-filled vessels. Small-scale cultivation is frequently done using 5-gallon buckets. Larger containers like washtubs and old bathtubs also work wonderfully. For best results, select a container at least 18 inches deep and 20 inches wide to provide ample room for roots.
Make sure to poke drainage holes in the bottom and sides of your container. Adding floating aquatic plants can help oxygenate the water. Putting aquatic snails or small fish into the water will help control mosquitoes and eat decaying plant debris and algae.
Selecting the Best Taro Variety
There are numerous types of taro to choose from when planning your aquatic garden. Seek out varieties best suited to growing in flooded conditions. Dasheen is a large, fast-growing taro cultivar that thrives when inundated. Bun Long and Chinese Taro are other great water-loving options. Consider Hawaiian varieties like Lehua Maoli or Nihopuu as well.
You can obtain taro starts from specialty nurseries, online sellers, or local growers. If you live in the tropics, planting huli (taro tops) directly in soil will generate new plants easily. Just cut off the tops and replant them to expand your crop.
Planting Taro in Containers
Start by filling your selected container about two-thirds full with potting soil or planting medium. Place taro starts in the vessel, surrounding each with more soil. Leave the top few inches of the plant and 2-3 leaves poking out over the container’s rim.
Add water until it just covers the soil surface. As plants develop, you can add more soil and water as needed. Maintain 3-6 inches of water in the container as the taro matures. Monitor water levels and refill as necessary to keep plants happily flooded.
Caring For Your Taro
Situate your taro container in an area receiving full sun. Taro thrives in tropical temperatures between 70-90°F. Move pots to a greenhouse or indoors if your climate grows cooler.
Fertilize taro regularly by pouring diluted liquid fertilizer directly into the water. Use an aquatic plant food or balanced vegetable formula. Remove dead leaves and trim back stems when required.
Monitor plants closely for pests like aphids and spider mites. Controlling weeds in and around the container is also crucial. Watch for rotting tubers if water becomes stagnant. Change water and take out decaying plant debris when needed.
Harvesting Your Taro
Taro generally reaches mature size for harvesting in 6-12 months, though timing depends on the variety grown. The corms are ready for harvest when they measure 3-5 inches across. Carefully dig them up and brush off excess soil. Store harvested corms in a cool place for 1-2 weeks to allow skins to thicken.
After curing, trim off leaves and roots. Cook and enjoy your fresh taro corms right away, or store them for later use. Boiling, roasting, and frying are common cooking methods. Taro makes a nutritious side dish or can be used as the main component in tasty creations like poi.
Satisfying and Sustainable
Growing taro aquatically allows you to put this water-loving crop’s natural tendencies to great use. You can generate a bountiful harvest of wholesome tubers in a small space. Try different taro varieties to discover your favorites. This versatile ancient crop is ideal for modern home growers. Embrace taro cultivation in water and experience the joys and flavors of this unique root vegetable for yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Taro in Water
Can you grow taro as a houseplant?
Yes, you can grow colocasia taro indoors year-round as a houseplant. The foliage may die back if temperatures drop below 70°F though. All parts must be cooked before eating as the raw plant is poisonous.
How long does taro take to grow?
Taro takes 7-12 months to mature and be ready for harvesting once planted. Time varies by cultivar. Look for yellowing leaves as a sign it’s time to dig up tubers. Consume taro immediately after harvest, it won’t store longer than 1 month.
What size container is best?
For ideal growth, use a 5-gallon bucket or larger vessel at least 18 inches deep and 20 inches wide. This provides sufficient room for taro’s expansive root system. Add aquatic plants to oxygenate the water.
How much water does taro need?
Taro thrives in moist conditions. Maintain 3-6 inches of water in containers as plants grow. Check levels regularly and top off as needed to keep soil flooded. Taro grown in drier soil will require much more frequent watering.
Can taro be grown without standing water?
While taro grows best aquatically, you can cultivate it in garden beds or large containers without standing water. Just ensure the soil stays constantly moist. Taro grown this way will need much more attentive watering and weed control.
Growing nutritious taro in water is an easy, space-efficient way to put this versatile tropical crop to use. Follow this guide to get started growing taro aquatically and enjoy flavorful fresh tubers from your own backyard garden.
Caring for Your Taro Plant
- 1 Keep your taro plant above 60 °F (16 °C). Taro is a tropical plant, and it prefers a warm, moist environment. If the weather turns unexpectedly cold, considering covering your plant with a plastic sheet to help it stay warm.
- Taro can endure temperatures as low as 50 °F (10 °C) for short periods of time, but they will be damaged if it gets any cooler.
- 2 Remove weeds as they grow. Weeds can decrease a taro yield by as much as half. Pull up any weeds you see as soon as they appear, especially while the taro is taking root.
- Once the taro is established, it will produce its own ground cover that will help prevent weeds from growing. However, this can take several months.
- 3 Keep your taro plant well-watered during the growing period. For the healthiest taro, the soil should stay constantly moist. Touch the soil to see if it feels damp. If its dry, give it enough water to completely soak the soil. In extremely warm weather, you may need to water the plant as often as once a day.
- Use a spray bottle to mist the leaves of your taro plant at least once a day. This provides the humidity that your plant needs to thrive.
- A container-grown taro plant needs a similar amount of water.
- You can decrease the amount of water you give the plant just before harvest time to force the taro to direct its nutrients to the tuber.
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- 1 Purchase your tubers from a seed supplier or exotic market. A taro tuber is a fleshy bulb that grows underground, similar to a potato. Although you may be able to purchase taro tubers at a garden supply store, they can be hard to find. A specialty market which carries produce may be the better option, since tubers which are sold for food will work fine for planting.
- Try looking for tuber at an Indian, East Asian, or Latin American market.[2]
- 2 Choose healthy-looking, large tubers for planting. Different varieties of taro can grow to different sizes, so the size shouldn’t be the only factor, but the tuber you use should be plump, clean, and free from soft spots or mold.
- Although there are more than 100 varieties of taro, the 2 most common are dasheen and eddoe.[3]
- Dasheen is a large tuber with a dry, crumbly flesh.
- Eddoe is a smaller tuber with a creamy texture and less flavor than dasheen.
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- 3 Place the bottom half of the tuber in sandy soil so shoots start to form. The top half of the tuber should be sticking up above the soil. Keep the plant in a dark, warm place, in temperatures above 80 °F (27 °C) until shoots start to form.
- You can sometimes find taro tubers that are already growing shoots, but in most cases, you will need to sprout them yourself.
- 4 Wait a few weeks for the shoots to develop. Whether you are planting your taro in a garden or a container, let the shoots grow to several inches before you transplant it.
- Shoots will usually start to grow within a couple of weeks, but they can sometimes take several months, depending on the dormancy of the plant.
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