How to Grow Taro Plants in Cold Climates

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a tropical plant valued for its edible corms and leaves, serving as a staple food in many warm regions. While typically thriving in hot, humid environments, growing taro in colder climates is achievable with specific adaptations. This guide provides strategies for cultivating taro successfully, allowing gardeners in temperate zones to harvest this versatile crop.

Cold Climate Challenges for Taro

Taro is inherently sensitive to cold temperatures, making its cultivation challenging in cooler climates. Temperatures consistently below 68°F (20°C) can significantly inhibit growth, and exposure to temperatures below 50°F (10°C) will damage the plant. Frost, in particular, is detrimental and can quickly kill taro foliage and corms.

The plant requires a long, warm, and frost-free growing season, typically 7 to 10 months, to produce substantial corms. Many cold climates do not offer this extended heat, limiting corm development. This abbreviated growing window often results in smaller or undeveloped corms without extending the effective season.

Taro also relies on consistently warm soil temperatures for root and corm enlargement. In cooler regions, soil warms slowly in spring and cools quickly in autumn, preventing it from reaching and maintaining the optimal warmth taro needs to flourish. This hinders nutrient absorption and efficient growth.

Cultivation Strategies for Cold Climates

Starting Taro Indoors

Giving taro a head start indoors is an effective strategy to overcome short growing seasons in cold climates. Gardeners should begin this process several weeks before the last anticipated spring frost. Plant corms in pots filled with a warm, moist potting mix, ensuring adequate drainage.

Ideal indoor conditions for sprouting taro include consistent warmth, ideally between 77°F and 95°F (25°C and 35°C), and bright, indirect light. A heating mat placed under the pots aids in maintaining soil temperature for germination and early growth. Once frost danger has passed and outdoor temperatures are reliably warm, young taro plants can be gradually acclimated to outdoor conditions before transplanting.

Optimizing Site and Soil

Selecting the warmest, sunniest location in the garden is important for taro in cold climates. A site that receives full sun for at least six hours daily will maximize the heat available to the plants. Incorporating methods to warm the soil directly can enhance growth. Raised beds, for example, allow the soil to heat up more quickly in spring and retain warmth longer into the autumn.

Using black plastic mulch around the plants helps absorb solar radiation, warming the soil beneath. Taro thrives in rich, well-draining soil that remains consistently moist but not waterlogged. Amending the planting area with organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, improves soil structure, fertility, and moisture retention.

Protecting from Frost

Even after the last spring frost, cold snaps can occur, and early autumn frosts can prematurely end the growing season. Protecting taro from these temperature drops is important for corm development. Row covers, cloches, or temporary shelters can provide a protective barrier, elevating temperatures around the plants by several degrees.

These coverings can be deployed on nights when frost is forecast and removed during the day to allow for sunlight and air circulation. Applying a thick layer of organic mulch, such as straw or wood chips, around the base of the plants helps insulate the soil, retaining warmth and protecting shallow corms from sudden temperature fluctuations. Mulching also helps conserve soil moisture.

Growing in Containers

Container growing offers a solution for cultivating taro in cold climates, allowing for better temperature control and mobility. Large containers, ideally at least 15 gallons, are suitable for taro’s root system. Ensuring good drainage holes in the container is important to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot.

A high-quality potting mix rich in organic matter, perhaps combined with some sand for drainage, works well as a growing medium. The primary advantage of containers is the ability to move plants indoors during cold periods, such as unexpected late spring frosts or the onset of autumn. This extends the growing season, protecting plants from damaging low temperatures.

Harvesting and Overwintering Taro

In cold climates, taro corms are ready for harvest before the first hard frost, often when the plant’s leaves begin to yellow and die back. This change in foliage signals that the corms have matured underground. Harvesting before a hard freeze is important, as freezing temperatures can damage the corms and make them unsuitable for storage or consumption.

To harvest, carefully dig around the base of the plant using a garden fork, avoiding damage to the corms. Gently lift the entire plant from the soil, shaking off excess dirt. Once harvested, the corms should be cured by allowing them to dry in a warm, airy place for a few days; this helps toughen the skin and prevents rot during storage.

After curing, store the taro corms in a cool, dry, dark, and well-ventilated area, such as a basement or root cellar. Placing them in a container filled with sand, peat moss, or sawdust protects them from dehydration and temperature fluctuations. Proper storage ensures the corms remain viable for replanting the following spring.

Alocasia Silver Dragon Soil: The Ideal Mix Recipe

Cymbidium Orchid Leaf Problems and How to Fix Them

What Is the Best Pot for a Peace Lily?