Sticky

Kalo (aka taro)

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.

Ulu (aka breadfruit)

Here’s what I think I know about growing ulu (aka breadfruit)…

Hawaiian variety is very good. Start there. Get them from gulches. Second small gulch in upper Laupahoehoe. Cut rhizome on the tree side. Air layer, then come back in a few weeks and check on it.
– It likes gulches
– doesn’t like the wind
– happy in elevations up to 1500 feet
– they grow big. Need to prune them regularly at 10 feet. to keep them producing. Side branches are encouraged so you can pick them at 10 feet. 
– trees planted 40 ft apart 
– early canoes were made from ulu
– ulu fiti is a great variety
– Grow from cutting from roots and airlayering branches
– plant companion trees of Chinese plums and Mac nut to protect it. 
– Puna has some good stock, but need to have it in a pot the first year or two. Also Kukaiau, Paauilo Mauka 
– create a rock wall about 8-9 foot radius around, starts smaller and extends as the tree grows

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 1 tree from Plant It Hawaii 4/12/2019. Some brown leaves after transplant but seems to keep growing