Taro

Quick facts

Category

roots bulbs

Difficulty

intermediate

Days to harvest

200 to 365 days

Harvest type

single harvest then replant

Spacing

60 cm between plants

Environment

Temperature

21–32°C

pH

5.5 to 7

EC (hydroponic)

1.5 to 2.5 mS/cm

Daily light

14 to 22 mol/m²/day

Climate and zones

USDA zones

9 to 13 (winter low around -7°C or warmer)

Frost tolerance

frost sensitive (dies at first frost)

Season

year-round tropical (needs consistent warmth)

Viable growing environments:

• outdoor in growing season (annual)
• heated greenhouse
• indoor (heated home)
• indoor hydroponics under grow lights

USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.

Growing systems

Taro works in:

• media bed (ebb and flow)
• wicking bed
• soil bed

Root mass is very heavy - thin-channel systems (NFT, vertical towers) can't hold this crop mechanically, hence the system list above.

Growing media

The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (taro works in the media listed below).

Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.

Nutrient demand by stage

NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.

Companion-growing notes

• Heavy uptake of potassium. Co-grown crops with the same demand will end up deficient even at "correct" EC. Plan around this in shared reservoirs.
• High transpiration. Reservoir level will need regular top-ups during fruiting or flowering.

Aquaponics suitability

Compatible with typical aquaponics nutrient profiles. Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth; supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.

Care notes

A tropical crop for warm, wet conditions, which aligns well with aquaponics. Taro is one of the few crops that thrives in waterlogged, saturated conditions; wetland taro (grown in flooded paddies, similar to rice) produces the highest yields. Media beds, large containers (20 L), or direct planting in shallow, warm water near fish tanks. EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.0. Temperature: 25–35°C (strictly tropical; growth stops below 15°C). Moderate to high light (DLI 16-25 mol/m2/day). Plant corm pieces (with a growing point) 5–10 cm deep. The large, ornamental leaves emerge on tall petioles (60–120 cm). Harvest corms after 6-12 months when the leaves begin to yellow and decline. Each plant produces 1–5 kg of corm depending on variety and conditions. The tolerance of waterlogging makes taro uniquely compatible with aquaponics: it can grow with its roots directly in fish system water, which would drown most other crops.

Legality

Some edible crops are regulated as noxious weeds or invasive species in regions outside their native range. This table reflects the rules as of the verified date on each row; verify with your local agriculture or environmental authority before planting, especially for outdoor systems.

Further reading

• Best crops for hydroponic beginners
• The Kratky method: grow lettuce with zero electricity