Grocery store taro
 

I bought some taro from the Asian grocery store that is sprouting. Have any of you tried to grow it?

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Hi, I buy tubers each year from the asian grocers as it saves over wintering them. here are a few pictures of what we can get in the shops in the UK

Re: Grocery store taro
 

I have some too I'll have to get a picture. ;)

Dean

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Guess I'll go down to the market myself and see what they got!

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Here's a picture of my Taro...

Dean

Re: Grocery store taro
 

i knew taro sounded familiar...they use it in hawaii for poi. duh! im having one of those mondays. i watched them use it last season on top chef when they went to hawaii. it looks like an ee to me. is it any good? i know that it has to be cooked a long time or it can lead to throat irritations. but ive never had it.

Re: Grocery store taro
 

My wife knows how to cook the stems, but I'm unsure about the tubers.
:03:

Dean

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Excellent! I'll get mine in the ground right away! Do you think they'd be a perennial here in Dallas?

Yeah, doesn't that stuff look N-A-S-T-Y?!? I'd have a hard time eating something that looks like paste and apparently has no taste either.

Re: Grocery store taro
 

I leave mine in the ground here in zone 8b. :parachutenanner::0520:

Dean

Re: Grocery store taro
 

I bought some, last year, in the commisary, on a militaryy base. They were only 69¢ a pound. I got 10 of them in a pound. They sprouted in about a week. I called them, Seven Cent Elephant Ears.

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Big difference between 7b and 8b do you think? Perhaps if I planted them up near the house, that would make a difference. Too bad there aren't red taro like caladiums!

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Hey, I guess there is a difference in the zones. Maybe, someone else can shed some light on the subject.

Dean

Re: Grocery store taro
 

I get -7 here in the UK and they come up next season. Its quicker to start them fresh in march to plant out in may

Re: Grocery store taro
 

You do not have to plant the whole tuber. If you pick tubers with the top showing active growth with one or two "eyes", just cut below the lowest "eye" and place in a "to go" box with a transparent top. Place in 1/4" deep water. Also, dust the open wound with Rootone, or fungicide powder like Captan. Rootone not only has rooting hormones, but it is mostly fungicide. After the top grows a couple of inches, transfer to a suitable planting container or field that can be flooded.

By cutting the top for planting you can enjoy the tuber, boiled or fried like potatoes. Or sub for potatoes in soup. Unless you like poi, then sub for potatoes in mashed potatoes!

Re: Grocery store taro
 

I bought some at a local Chinese Market and then noticed they were available from the normal Supermarket , Giant, Safeway. In Europe you can also find Xanthasoma as tubers in the Asian Markets as I'm sure we can here in the US but I have not found any yet.
I have few in pots at the moment and also I grew market tubers every year in France.

Mark the UK zone 7 is so very different from a US zone 7 as you know. I'm not sure Colocasia Esculenta (Taro) would survive without a very heavy mulch , but I'll have a go :-)
Later
Stev

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Steve,
Here is my esculenta 'Ruffles' from last year. They were my first ee's up this spring and growing like crazy... Only had about 3"-4" of mulch covering them over winter...

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Randy, That is one monster leaf you have there. I have only seen ruffles in the black form not in green. Does it send out runners or just more tubers?


Steve, If you are having trouble finding Xanthosoma tubers ( cocoes) drop me a PM and I will see if I can send you a little gift. I am sure its not going to cost a fortune to send a couple of tubers over.

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Randy , good to know that they survive outdoors, I've not tried Ruffles so far . Ruffles was/is available in Europe, Black Ruffles too I think.
Mark I have two forms of Xanthoma here with the promise of a third , so many thanks but you cannot send me stuff :parachutenanner: it's more than my residents permit is worth .
Thanks
Steve

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Steve,
WOW!!! Never heard of a black 'Ruffles'. Know where someone could get their hands on one? PM sent...

Re: Grocery store taro
 

Randy here is a link for 'Black Ruffles' CFF - Colocasia Black Ruffles Elephant Ear Plant for sale - Rare & Exotic Alocasia, Banana plants, Palm trees For Sale - Mail Order Shopping PayPal!
I'd get one and send it but funds are now low because of vacation plans .My wife thinks vacations are more important than plants , go figure :ha:
Later
Steve