Re: Black-leaved Taro
- Subject: Re: Black-leaved Taro
- From: d* f*
- Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 00:10:49 -0800 (PST)
Here in northern California(Berkeley/Oakland), it is
not so tender as it seems to be for you. It will take
light frost and return from the roots if left
outdoors, and was looking good up until the frosts at
the end of January, some plants even still in bloom.
In Watsonville at Suncrest Nursery, they were looking
quite good being grown in an unheated hoophouse, with
outdoor lows down to 27F outside, and still in full
leaf. Taking it indoors and keeping it warm certainly
wouldn't hurt it, but at our latitude and typical
winter lows, it reliably acts as a perennial which may
die back in winter. They are slow to initiate new
foliage with our typical cool spring weather, but
usually make up for it in June/July/August.
--- Diane Whitehead <voltaire@islandnet.com> wrote:
> There was a discussion last month about the
> difficulties of growing
> the black-leaved form of Colocasia esculenta. I
> reported that I had
> killed it twice over winter. I visited the friend
> who had given me
> my latest 'pup', and there was Mama, looking very
> healthy in a huge
> pot by the sliding glass door inside his warm
> kitchen. I admitted
> that his gift had died the previous winter in my
> unheated greenhouse
> and he said, "It is a tropical, you know." I guess
> that's the last
> gift I'll get for a while.
>
> Anyway, there's the trick. You can put it on the
> patio for the
> summer, but when the temperature dips below 25C,
> take it inside with
> you. No coldframe, garage or basement. If you're
> comfortable sitting
> in your shirtsleeves, it will last out the winter.
> If you have to
> put a sweater on, goodbye plant.
>
> Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
> zone 8 cool mediterranean climate
>
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