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Vegetable

Taro

Colocasia esculenta · also Dasheen, Eddoe

A tropical root crop with huge heart-shaped leaves, grown for its starchy corms. It needs a long, warm, frost-free season and lots of water, so it suits the tropics and subtropics best. Plant in spring in cooler areas. Every part is toxic raw: always cook corms and leaves well.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (2)

  • Bun LongPurple-spot taro with creamy, starchy flesh; best in the tropics
  • Chinese taroSuits northern NSW to south-east Queensland

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    75 cm apart, rows 180 cm, seed 50 mm deep. Full sun or part shade.

  2. Water

    Keep constantly moist; it copes with boggy ground.

  3. Feed

    Rich, compost-heavy soil; feed two or three times a season, with extra potash.

  4. Pick, from about 39 weeks

    Lift corms when the leaves yellow and die back, 9 to 12 months after planting.

Good to know

  • Plant offshoots at least 15 cm tall, or the top piece of a corm
  • Corms don't store well; leave them in the ground until needed
  • Wear gloves when peeling; the sap can itch
  • Never eat corms or leaves raw; boil or steam well

Common problems

  • Corms rot before shootingplant in warm soil in spring, not in cold wet ground
  • Leaf blight (brown, spreading spots in humid weather)remove affected leaves and give space for airflow
  • Small cormstoo dry or too little food; water constantly and feed with potash

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about taroAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing taroQuestions, tips and harvests from the community
Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.