The Patra plant, or Taro (Colocasia esculenta), is a tropical perennial grown for its starchy underground corm and its large, edible leaves. It is known by many names, including Dasheen and Eddo, and Patra specifically refers to the prepared leaves. Cultivating this plant requires specific conditions that mimic its warm, humid, and aquatic native environment. Successful growth depends on providing a long, frost-free season and consistently high inputs of water and nutrients.
Establishing Taro: Site Selection and Soil Requirements
The process of establishing Patra begins with securing a healthy planting unit, typically a small corm or a “huli,” which is the trimmed top of a corm with a portion of the stem attached. Plant these starting pieces about 2 to 4 inches deep, ensuring the bud or growing point faces upward, and space them generously, allowing 18 to 36 inches between plants to accommodate the large leaf spread. Taro thrives in warm conditions, preferring temperatures between 77°F and 95°F for maximum growth, and cannot tolerate frost, which means planting should only occur once all danger of cold weather has passed.
Selecting the proper site is paramount for a successful harvest, with a location that offers protection from strong winds being particularly important, as the expansive, heart-shaped leaves can tear easily. The soil itself must be rich in organic matter, offering a friable, loamy texture that can hold significant moisture without becoming waterlogged. Taro prefers a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH, ideally ranging from 5.5 to 6.5, which supports nutrient availability and healthy root development.
Daily Care Essentials: Watering and Light
Taro is a moisture-loving plant, evolving from semi-aquatic ancestors, which means its daily care revolves around maintaining consistently wet soil conditions throughout the growing season. The soil should never be permitted to dry out, as this stresses the plant and severely limits both leaf and corm production. In-ground taro benefits greatly from a thick layer of mulch to help retain this high level of moisture and simultaneously suppress weeds.
Container-grown Patra requires even more frequent monitoring and watering due to the faster evaporation rate, often needing water daily or every other day to keep the soil evenly moist. In addition to soil moisture, the plant benefits from high humidity, especially in drier climates, which can be provided by misting the foliage or placing the container on a pebble tray filled with water.
Light exposure involves a balance: Patra plants generally prefer full sun to maximize energy for growth. In hotter climates, intense midday sun can cause the large leaves to scorch, so a location providing morning sun and dappled afternoon shade is often optimal. If the plant is grown primarily for its leaves rather than its corms, it can tolerate slightly more shade, though reduced light results in smaller size and less substantial corm development. Maintaining appropriate light and high moisture is crucial, as inadequate conditions are the most common cause of poor performance.
Managing Growth and Harvesting
Taro is considered a heavy feeder and requires a consistent schedule of high-nitrogen fertilizer throughout the active growing period to support the production of its massive leaves. This feeding is distinct from the initial organic matter added to the soil and should involve a water-soluble fertilizer applied every two to three weeks during the spring and summer months. Nitrogen is especially important in the early stages, as the leaves act as the plant’s engine, driving all subsequent growth, including the starchy corms below the surface.
As the growing season progresses, switching to a fertilizer formulation with higher potassium levels can help encourage starch accumulation and firming in the developing corms. Growers should watch for common pests like aphids and spider mites, which can be managed with simple treatments such as a blast of water or an application of insecticidal soap. High humidity and dense foliage can occasionally lead to fungal issues, making good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering late in the day helpful preventative measures.
When harvesting the leaves for Patra, select the outer, older leaves and cut them at the base of the petiole, being careful not to remove more than one-third of the plant’s foliage at any time to ensure its continued health. Harvesting the corms typically occurs after seven to twelve months, when the plant naturally begins to slow its growth and the leaves start to yellow and die back. After digging the corms, they can be cured in a warm, dry, and shaded area for a few days before storage.
Taro contains calcium oxalate crystals, which cause significant irritation to the mouth and throat if consumed raw. All parts of the plant—the leaves, stems, and corms—must be cooked thoroughly (typically by boiling, baking, or steaming) to break down these compounds and make them safe for consumption.