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 USA - Zone 5a 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

02 Aug 10, Sheila (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you please tell me where I can get Dasheen plants from? Thanks
18 Jul 11, georgi (Australia - tropical climate)
Do i just stick the top of a store bought taro into the ground? where do i cut it?
21 Oct 11, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I'm in Castlemaine Vic. Is it worth growing taro in my greenhouse here?
23 Apr 12, hugh (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I get(buy) taro (edible) for planting in Melbourne? Thanks I would like your recommendation for a good variety to be brought to a school in Nth-East Thailand (Isarn) for a missionary who teach the people there to plant.(before May 10 2012) Regards.
23 May 12, Taani (Australia - arid climate)
Hi where can I get the taro plants from because I need to grow some.. thanks
29 Sep 12, Andrew (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi where can i buy edible taro in north queensland
11 Nov 13, lilian Ndaya (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i grow three types of different edible taro, garden egg know as egg plant in Australia, known as anara in Igbo language, okra, yams, green known as amarantus and casava.
21 Nov 12, (Australia - tropical climate)
On the weekend I picked up some edible Taro at the Willow's Markets in Townsville
18 Apr 13, Liz (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
There is an online supplier - search under Lushplants
23 Apr 13, el arish (Australia - tropical climate)
There are many varieties available like bun long, sweet white, tania and Samoan pink. Try the variety you are buying before you plant it to make sure you like that particular taro as they have different flavor. And definitely make sure you are getting a named variety!! Some nurseries don't even know what they are selling.
Showing 1 - 10 of 76 comments

Do i just stick the top of a store bought taro into the ground? where do i cut it?

- georgi

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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. Gardenate 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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.