Grow Your Own Elephant's Ears

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Eddoes

I saw these eddoes (aka Taro and Elephant’s Ears) on sale in Tesco and couldn’t resist buying a bag and trying to grow them.

According to Food Plants of the World, Taro (Colocasia esculenta) rarely flowers because it has been cultivated by division for so long. Originally from south east Asia, it’s now grown in many parts of the world for its edible tubers, leaves and stems. It is easily grown from tubers in warm, moist conditions. Cooked in similar ways to potatoes, taro has a high energy value, is easily digestible, and also contains vitamin C, phosphorus and iron. It’s a highly ornamental plant, but outside the tropics it may take two years to grow new tubers.

Joy Larkcom’s Oriental Vegetables suggests that taro is not really worth growing outside of the tropics, but that there is a variety which is being grown in Europe for the leaves and stems. A 1m tall perennial, taro likes lots of water and can be forced to provide blanched leaves. It suggests planting tubers around 15 cm deep and 38 cm apart.

Bearing this advice in mind, I have planted my 4 tubers singly in large tubs, in the Grow Dome. 3 of the tubs have a built in water reservoir to help keep the moisture levels up. The 4th has drainage holes that are raised above the bottom of the pot, so it isn’t completely free-draining either.

Joe Swift grew taro in his garden of tropical edibles on Gardeners’ World last summer, but I don’t think he ever tried to eat them.

Posted 24 April 2008, 14:07.   Posted in .
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2 Comments for Grow Your Own Elephant's Ears

  1. You’re in for the long haul then before you get to taste it. Perhaps Delia has a recipe.
    PS – I’ve left an award for you on my blog.

    easygardener · Apr 26, 12:57 AM

  2. Yes, it might be a long wait :)

    If you’re looking for recipes, try this link:

    http://www.itzcaribbean.com/eddoes_caribbean_food.php

    Emma · Apr 29, 07:30 PM

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