Grocery store taro

Gardener972 · 04-28-2008, 12:05 AM

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

Mark Hall · 04-28-2008, 04:39 AM

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

Dean W. · 04-28-2008, 09:22 AM

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

Dean

magicgreen · 04-28-2008, 10:57 AM

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

Dean W. · 04-28-2008, 11:32 AM

Here's a picture of my Taro...

Dean

mskitty38583 · 04-28-2008, 01:53 PM

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.

Dean W. · 04-28-2008, 03:09 PM

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

Dean

Gardener972 · 04-28-2008, 03:28 PM

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.

Dean W. · 04-28-2008, 03:34 PM

I leave mine in the ground here in zone 8b.

Dean

john_ny · 04-28-2008, 03:34 PM

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.

Gardener972 · 04-28-2008, 03:37 PM

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!

Dean W. · 04-28-2008, 03:39 PM

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

Dean

Mark Hall · 04-28-2008, 05:11 PM

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

chong · 04-28-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john_ny

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.

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!

Steve in France · 04-28-2008, 06:48 PM

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

Randy4ut · 04-28-2008, 08:25 PM

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...

Mark Hall · 04-29-2008, 05:06 AM

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.

Steve in France · 04-29-2008, 06:44 AM

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

it's more than my residents permit is worth .
Thanks
Steve

Randy4ut · 04-29-2008, 06:50 AM

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

Steve in France · 04-29-2008, 07:36 AM

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

Later
Steve

04-28-2008, 12:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
Gardener972 Location: north Dallas, TX Zone: 7b/8a Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 69 BananaBucks : 1,658 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 12 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Welcomes: 6	Grocery store taro I bought some taro from the Asian grocery store that is sprouting. Have any of you tried to grow it?

04-28-2008, 09:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,166 BananaBucks : 6,548 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 610 Thanked 203 Times in 191 Posts Welcomes: 182	Re: Grocery store taro I have some too I'll have to get a picture. Dean __________________ Dean

04-28-2008, 10:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 785 BananaBucks : 2,616 Feedback: 8 / 100% Thanks: 323 Thanked 124 Times in 107 Posts Welcomes: 104	Re: Grocery store taro Guess I'll go down to the market myself and see what they got! __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

04-28-2008, 11:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,166 BananaBucks : 6,548 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 610 Thanked 203 Times in 191 Posts Welcomes: 182	Re: Grocery store taro Here's a picture of my Taro... Dean __________________ Dean

04-28-2008, 01:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,408 BananaBucks : 13,538 Feedback: 22 / 100% Thanks: 13 Thanked 405 Times in 349 Posts Welcomes: 37	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. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 14, 11-13-2007. No one is currently using the chat.

04-28-2008, 03:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,166 BananaBucks : 6,548 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 610 Thanked 203 Times in 191 Posts Welcomes: 182	Re: Grocery store taro My wife knows how to cook the stems, but I'm unsure about the tubers. Dean __________________ Dean

04-28-2008, 03:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Gardener972 Location: north Dallas, TX Zone: 7b/8a Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 69 BananaBucks : 1,658 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 12 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Welcomes: 6	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.

04-28-2008, 03:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,166 BananaBucks : 6,548 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 610 Thanked 203 Times in 191 Posts Welcomes: 182	Re: Grocery store taro I leave mine in the ground here in zone 8b. Dean __________________ Dean

04-28-2008, 03:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
john_ny Member john_ny's Photo Gallery Location: Staten Island, NY - southernmost county in NY State. Find me on the map! Zone: USDA7- Sunset34 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 227 BananaBucks : 4,868 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 17 Thanked 65 Times in 33 Posts Welcomes: 3	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. __________________ John

04-28-2008, 03:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Gardener972 Location: north Dallas, TX Zone: 7b/8a Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 69 BananaBucks : 1,658 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 12 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Welcomes: 6	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!

04-28-2008, 03:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,166 BananaBucks : 6,548 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 610 Thanked 203 Times in 191 Posts Welcomes: 182	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 __________________ Dean

04-28-2008, 05:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mark Hall Mark Mark Hall's Photo Gallery Location: Windsor u.k. Find me on the map! Name: Mark Hall Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 396 BananaBucks : 3,376 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 69 Thanked 42 Times in 24 Posts Welcomes: 2	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 __________________ Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

04-28-2008, 06:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
Steve in France Senior Member Steve in France's Photo Gallery Location: Bethesda, MD Find me on the map! Zone: zone: it says 6 to 8 Name: Steve in France Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 382 BananaBucks : 4,040 Feedback: 12 / 93% Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 21 Posts Welcomes: 0	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 __________________ Always looking for a lost pup

04-28-2008, 08:25 PM	#16 (permalink)
Randy4ut Moderator Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Location: Cleveland, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7a/b Name: Randy4ut Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 816 BananaBucks : 9,641 Feedback: 16 / 100% Thanks: 355 Thanked 266 Times in 130 Posts Welcomes: 24	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... __________________

04-29-2008, 05:06 AM	#17 (permalink)
Mark Hall Mark Mark Hall's Photo Gallery Location: Windsor u.k. Find me on the map! Name: Mark Hall Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 396 BananaBucks : 3,376 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 69 Thanked 42 Times in 24 Posts Welcomes: 2	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. __________________ Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

04-29-2008, 06:44 AM	#18 (permalink)
Steve in France Senior Member Steve in France's Photo Gallery Location: Bethesda, MD Find me on the map! Zone: zone: it says 6 to 8 Name: Steve in France Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 382 BananaBucks : 4,040 Feedback: 12 / 93% Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 21 Posts Welcomes: 0	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 it's more than my residents permit is worth . Thanks Steve __________________ Always looking for a lost pup

04-29-2008, 06:50 AM	#19 (permalink)
Randy4ut Moderator Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Location: Cleveland, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7a/b Name: Randy4ut Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 816 BananaBucks : 9,641 Feedback: 16 / 100% Thanks: 355 Thanked 266 Times in 130 Posts Welcomes: 24	Re: Grocery store taro Steve, WOW!!! Never heard of a black 'Ruffles'. Know where someone could get their hands on one? PM sent... __________________

04-29-2008, 07:36 AM	#20 (permalink)
Steve in France Senior Member Steve in France's Photo Gallery Location: Bethesda, MD Find me on the map! Zone: zone: it says 6 to 8 Name: Steve in France Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 382 BananaBucks : 4,040 Feedback: 12 / 93% Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 21 Posts Welcomes: 0	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 Later Steve __________________ Always looking for a lost pup