How to Grow Colocasia?
Colocasia or Taro, called Arbi (Arvi or kochhu) in India is a common and popular food crop in most parts of the country. Nicknamed Elephant Ears for their ear shape voluminous leaves, they are perfect ornamentals like their close cousins Alocasia and Caladiums. Native to India and Asia, it grows almost like a perennial in warmer regions but foliage will die back to the ground in freezing cold.
Home growing colocasia tubers brings a variety of dishes and delicacies from the kitchen though you may just grow them for sprucing up a corner of your front garden in beds or even planter.
They are a perfect fit in the category of edimentle (edible beauties) as almost the entire plant from leaves to roots is edible. The starchy sweet root is cooked as Arbi curry, cutlets, Arbi fry, or even kofta. It is popular during navratras and is even added to kuttu atta to make pooris and paranthas. The giant herb should also be a part of your home garden for its health benefits. Its helpful in curing asthma, arthritis, diarrhoea, skin and neurological disorders.
And the best part is that they are super easy to grow in home gardens and ask for very little care. Just follow the instructions below and scoop out your fresh and chemical free Taro treasure whenever you like.
Step by Step Instructions
- Sowing time: Spring Summer / Autumn
Season: Summer Crop - Soil: Sandy Loam or Alluvial with pH 5.5-6.5
- Water: Deep Watering
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Time period: 150 days
1. Pick up Colocasia tubers from local vegetable market or garden store in late spring or summer if your region experiences proper winter or else you may sow in autumn.
2. Prepare a well drained and porous soil for the roots to penetrate and spread. (Soil mix: Dry leaves : Compost – 2: 2: 1)
3. Deep water and leave.
4. Place the tubers in water overnight to hydrate well
5. Take a 2’ broad tub to accommodate 4-5 tubers with min 10” depth
6. Sow the tubers 2-3” deep at a distance of 8-10”
7. Colocasia needs heavy and regular watering. Planting it near a water body or pond can be an added advantage
8. Tubers will sprout within 10-12 days and soon your elephant ear leaves will sprawl your space.
9. You can dig anytime after 120 days to harvest your tubers even without uprooting the
whole plant.
10. If you love cooking the leaves, monsoon is a great time to enjoy leaf harvest.
11. For regions that experience extreme winter months, foliage will slowly die back and you can scoop
your harvest.
12. Any left out in the soil will mostly spring up again in spring.
