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TAHITIAN SPINACH GROWING INFORMATION
© Frances and Jeff Michaels
Common Name: Tahitian Spinach, Taro, Cocoyam, Celery Stem Taro Botanical Name: Colocasia esculenta Family: Araceae
Plant Description: Native to Indo-Malaysia and the Pacific, taro is widely grown throughout the tropics for its edible corms and stems. This particular taro was developed for its yield of edible tasty leaves rather than its roots. Taros are adapted to flooded environments and, like rice, can be grown in paddy culture. Under paddy they are grown in all soil types. They can also be grown in dry, upland areas if water is provided by irrigation or rainfall, mulching helps. Grown "dry" the best results are obtained on deep, well-drained friable loams.
Uses Food; the leaves and petioles (leaf stems) are eaten as a cooked green vegetable. They provide protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium and vitamins A, B, and C. The leaves can be harvested all year round.
CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS
Recommended Planting Time:
Plant any time
that the soil is warm and rain is expected. Planting Depth: Plant the tuber a few cm below the soil surface. Details: Taro is propagated vegetatively, by the leaf-bearing tops of mature corms or by small side shoots or suckers.
Available from Green Harvest: October 2010
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