THE TUBBY TUBER

THE FAST-GROWING ROOT VEGETABLE TARO, EDIBLE FROM ROOT TO TIP, IS A STARCHY STAPLE ALL OVER THE PACIFIC

Words Chloe Thomson

Taro is a starchy staple crop throughout the Pacific and parts of Asia but it can be grown as far south as Melbourne. One of the most ancient cultivated crops, taro is valued as a fast-growing root-to-tip edible plant with heart-shaped glossy leaves that can be used as a spinach replacement once well cooked. (The leaves must be cooked as they contain oxalic acid.) While the leaves are a rich source of vitamin A, C and protein, the starchy tubers can be cooked as sweet or savoury dishes. Once peeled, they can be baked, steamed, fried, boiled or mashed and, because the tuber’s starch grains are very small, taro is extremely easy to digest. The tubers produced by each plant are of similar size to the average sweet potato — but the first…

You're reading a preview of

Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #10.4 - 2019

DiscountMags is a licensed distributor (not a publisher) of the above content and Publication through Zinio LLC. Accordingly, we have no editorial control over the Publications. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers or other information or content expressed or made available by third parties, including those made in Publications offered on our website, are those of the respective author(s) or publisher(s) and not of DiscountMags. DiscountMags does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or usefulness of all or any portion of any publication or any services or offers made by third parties, nor will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information contained in any Publication, or your use of services offered, or your acceptance of any offers made through the Service or the Publications. For content removal requests, please contact Zinio.