Sticky
First Harvest. Planted in June 2018, harvested July 2019

Here’s what I think I know about growing kalo (aka taro)…


– 6 months to 2 years it takes to mature.
– Hybridization was done for years, but without name or story so these should not be kept
– grey or purple are the 2 standards but there are hundreds of variety have all different colors. All have different flavor, texture, etc.
– real medicine is in the fermented version.
– it lasts a few days/weeks
– Mold on it after sitting out? white mold, mix it in. Black mold, throw it away.
– fresh poi is not eaten by adults, wait for it to age. 
– crop rotation is key to avoid southern blight. For 3-year rotation, need a nematode resistant cover crop like sun hemp, resistant tomatoes or soybeans
– $2/lb is typical market price.
– Piko ulaula a great all around variety.

Publications:
– Taro Varieties in Hawaii, UH Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin #84, by Whitney, Bowers, Takahashi
– Special Kalo Edition, July 2013, by Glenn I Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
– “Taro – Mauka to Makai: A Taro Production and Business Guide for Hawa‘i Growers” by Dale Evans

My Elevation: 1000 feet

My Water: 100 inches per year

My Soil: pH=neutral, N=low, P=neutral, K=neutral

My luck growing it (as of July 2019): good. tried 4 plants from cuttings received at Hamakua Harvest workshop. THey grew for about 13 months. makes great poi. I have 4 other varieties I’m trying from Kohala Center’s Demo Farm that I planted in February 2019.

Posted on by Tinyville Farm.

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