How to Grow Taro (Kalo) The Easy Way

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

Aloha sean, mahalo for the great videos ❤🎉

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo for watching.

[@homesteadfarms5315]

I'm growing 4 varieties of kalo so far. One variety that I found growing wild on my property and 3 I got from homesteadin Hawaii fb ppl. It's a great group 🤙

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I have 2 varieties. It took some getting used to but the family loves poi now. Glad you found the fb group. The people there are pretty solid. Aloha

[@doctorrxnostrum7816]

@@HomesteadinHawaii What are the two varieties that you have?

[@doctorrxnostrum7816]

What 4 varieties of kalo do you have?

[@DRiceArizona]

Great information. I like that getting back in touch with the land and growing what works in your area and giving back is important to y'all. If Corona lockdowns and market disruptions have taught us anything, it is that we are too isolated from the source of our food. Empty shelves where there should be none is not a good thing to see.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

We get empty shelves out here all the time, but still, not enough people are growing food!

[@hancockhale]

loved the content! I've got Kalo that is shooting off keiki and I was wondering how to best propagate those keiki off of the main shoot.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Just break them off and plant them.

[@hancockhale]

@@HomesteadinHawaii figured it was simple. Sounds similar to banana keiki

[@feelingsvsreality8345]

In the Caribbean we eat both top and bottom bottom we call dasheen and the green part we call callaloo we do it like spinach

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I love the leaves. We make something called laulau. Pork belly and sweet potato wrapped in kalo leaf and steamed. So good!!!

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

I lived in the nanakuli homestead, but moved to TN

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I’m in panaewa, but part of me thinks of moving too. Costs are just so darn high

[@cbryce9243]

I just tried taro this morning for the first time. I'm not in Hawaii so I don't know if it will grow here in the Pacific Northwest, but I will put the root part in some dirt and see what happens! Thank you! We really do need to start growing what grows easily for food security. The price of food (and gasoline) is horrible right now! Thanks again.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Good luck. Idk about kalo in pnw but it’s worth a try.

[@Hasenkind1]

and what happend? will try it too but in potts but i´m from germany

[@j9kapolei]

Mahalo for sharing!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo for watching

[@jordankapeliela]

Some Ike I want to leave is the way of planting. Sure people do it differently, but you could plant the Huli a little deeper (right under the V of the petioles) as Kalo grows up and not down so you want to place it deeper so that it has more room to grow. Second is depending on what you want to get out of your Kalo (Oha, or larger Corms). If you want larger Corms, plant the Kalo Kū style (lau facing east and west to get more sunlight focused on the lau). Or Hina style (planting with the intention for the sun to pass over the V of the Kalo to produce light and heat at its core to produce more Oha)

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo. I’m going try those tips to see the differences. Someone once told me not to plant too deep, but I thought deeper would’ve been better for the reasons you mention. Now I’m gonna try

[@kenchapman3406]

Loving these videos ! Very useful.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo

[@geanvincentalmendras1559]

Thanks for the tips! I’m researching techniques to growing Kalo and other tropical crops, and formulating methods on growing them to maturity within the short growing seasons in the American Midwest. Mahalo Nui

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Good luck. I'm sure you can pull them off in pots in a greenhouse. It takes 9 months to maturity

[@doloinc]

The fastest growing Hawaiian variety is mana 'ulu; has the potential to mature within 4-6 months at the earliest

[@viverocieloverdeorganico]

Aloha !!! desde Uruguay. Gracias

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Gracias por ver

[@จะสอนลูกอย่างไรดีนะ]

Hi there, I am trying to grow them here in the UK too.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Good luck. I know there are some hardy varieties that can be grown indoors

[@prego998]

I think the Taro stem is edible. My grandma blanched and pickled the stem - i remember it being pret ty good. You should check it out.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I have never heard of that. I'll have to try it!

[@ngmui430]

yep, stems are used in traditional asian soups

[@CatboyChemicalSociety]

you have to cook any part of the taro well otherwise they contain sharp needle like crystals of calcium oxalate which rearrange to more hexagonal ones when cooked rendering them safe to consume. Taro uncooked can be potentially painful and require hospitalization due to the severe irritation it causes when consumed.

[@RomeliaGomez-Calmell7934]

👍👍👍Love it! I call those malanga lila.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo for watching. Where do you live?

[@kimuseni]

Very nice. Aloha

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo

[@christophersnedeker]

If I plant the corm will that also grow a new plant or is the only way to actually multiply my taro kakis?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

The keikis and the huli on top of the corm are the only things that will grow.

[@christophersnedeker]

God bless thank you.

[@zackcuson6246]

i really enjoyed your time. I live in Aiea and in a condo (18th floor) what do you suggest for growing a kalo? According to Home depot it the Hawaiian Kalo . I hope. It's small but I need to try and figure out what kind of growing pot would be best. Would a fish tank work, also what kind of soil should I use? Hope to hear from you soon. Mahalo

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You need drainage so a fish tank would not be good. Just get a good size pot, 5 gallon and up and plant your kalo in good soil. You could easily have a 15 gallon grow bag growing 2-3 kalo on a balcony.

[@zackcuson6246]

Mahalo for your reply. I will give a try. Let you know how it come out. Mahalo@@HomesteadinHawaii

[@robertawestbrooks9531]

Mahalo again bradda😅😅😅

[@LindsayT-wn7ps]

Can I ask where in Hilo you get the lepo? I live in Puna as well!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Ask on the homesteadin Hawaii Facebook group

[@regenerootshawaii3142]

Do you know if the place you were getting soil is still available? Thanks so much for the work you do!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I wish. That spot has since been turned into a football field. Mahalo for the support

[@JayBlueTape]

Aloha Kalo Video!

[@Skuikidigitz]

Mahalos bradda

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

No worries

[@guillaumebeaudet5334]

Nice video ! I'm still waiting for my first harvest of kalo can't wait! Did you try yellow cassava ? Is it comparable to kalo ? It's very easy to grow too and all my family loved it really much. Aloha 🤙🤙

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

We are doing better with our cassava than our kalo. I like turning the cassava into hash browns although they are a bit drier than potatoes.

[@doloinc]

For cutting (huli in Hawaiian) prep: cut 1/4-1/2 in below the kohina. Leaving too much corm will cause rot

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Thanks for the tip. I had a feeling g I could cut off more

[@doloinc]

@@HomesteadinHawaii and check out Aloha aina poi company's ig video. They show a significantly more efficient way to cut huli using the the ridge method.

[@LostinHawaii]

Great video! I've watched a bunch of vids of yours after just discovering you. So informative. I live in Puna and would love to start growing taro/kalo! Wondering how to get ahold of the tops to start propagating it.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Have you seen the homesteadin' Hawaii fb group? Ask for some there and guarantee someone will offer. I wish I had more to share.

[@LostinHawaii]

@@HomesteadinHawaii Mahalo, yes I am in that group! Great resource. I will ask as I am ready to get into that project. Mahalo!

[@doloinc]

@@LostinHawaii see if you can find 'ele'ele mākoko and 'ele'ele Naioea varieties. They are greatly associated with that region of Moku o Keawe

[@sasquatchdonut2674]

4:03- do you grow orchids too?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

i have a couple

[@sasquatchdonut2674]

@@HomesteadinHawaii I thought so lol

[@drivesanoldcar]

Thank you

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You're welcome

[@douglascanlassr.6487]

Thank you.

[@jaredpratt3927]

Many mahalos!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo to you sir!

[@Xenondos]

How long can we keep huli before planting?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It can keep for a pretty long time in a bucket with a little water, but always best to plant as soon as you can

[@angelkaimanakoaperea908]

Aloha! Im in Arizona. Im growing kalo but I need advice now…. We have a 20 degree drop at night. I have been bringing them inside at night but now all of my luau are turning yellow😢

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You might need a different variety? There is some upland kalo that had to deal with some cold nights, but not as cold as the 20's but maybe they can do better? Can try make a cold frame to help it over the winter. It takes 9 months to harvest right, so maybe Feb to October in Arizona, but then it might get too hot in the summer, you would need shade and lots of water. Good luck

[@jaishemajames4554]

Tarot can itch very badly ...caution when handling or peeling

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Never had problems touching but watch out when eating!

[@teamcautiouslyextreme8072]

So you said from one you can get up to twenty. How ? Does the corm multiply or what?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It makes a bunch of offshoot keiki that can all be replanted

[@nancyrenguul8815]

can i order one seed from you?, i live in Palau

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Unfortunately I can not ship to you, but there has got to be someone in Palau with kalo

[@IntrovertedVisionary]

If you're propogating from a taro bulb, how long before harvesting?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

9 months. Just like a baby

[@alldetected3106]

I may sound ignorant, but does Kalo yield multiple offspring?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It does and you can plant those also!

[@alldetected3106]

@@HomesteadinHawaii appreciate it 🙏🏽

[@jmatkinhawaii1281]

I know this is a few months old, but is it true that you shouldn't eat the taro leaves raw, that they should be steamed, blanched or boiled first? I've been told that it will make you very sick to your stomach if you eat the leaves raw...

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You are right. You have to cook them. Laulau is one of my favorite meals though. The steamed leaves are delicious.

[@helmutklauer2337]

My Kalo puts out several keiki. When planting the keiki should I cut off the small corm to make a huli or should I plant the small corm attached to the leaves?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I'm not quite following your question. Can you restate it?

[@helmutklauer2337]

When planting oha (baby Kalo plant) do I cut off most of the corm? The baby corm is only one or two inches in diameter.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Turn it into a huli just like you would the parent plant. So remove leaves and corm, plant the stalk. Wait for rains.

[@doloinc]

@@helmutklauer2337 - grow the keiki out until they are 1-2 ft. long minimum; then turn them into huli. Planting them when there are small will work, but they require more care and are more susceptible for failure. Traditionally, the makua (main plant/stem) was harvested and the keiki left behind to mature into a second crop, or to be grown out until they were of sufficient size. At that time, they were harvested and became the next generation of primary huli in the next mala/lo'i (primary meaning those planted in the center of the patch due to being more vigorous and healthy than the makua they originated from, which was generally planted on the outside of the patch)

[@helmutklauer2337]

@@doloinc mahalo

[@michaelcrabtree7113]

Dryland taro should be grown more in our backyards....its a "miracle food". There should be more advocating for this wonderful plant.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I love the greens the best. I just saw a report that demand is rising but growers are declining. Time for kalo in every yard.

[@michelestout9438]

🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️

[@jenniferjoerger9630]

I live here in hawwwwai

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Yay! Me too

[@joetakairangi]

my mum grew kalo for lu au my bro new zealand

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I love pounding poi and making laulau with it. Super ono!

[@disini6851]

👍👍👍🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩🤟🤟🤟

[@penakepaa3647]

That’s not deep enough

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I’ll try deeper see how it goes. Thanks

[@stewartmcgill6401]

how deep is your love ??

[@Darkstar001]

Great video, are you stoned?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I've been asked that my whole life!

[@ngmui430]

he is high on life