When to Plant Taro in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 6:55 this morning, not a model.
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Taro guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Dec
- Days to harvest
- about 39 weeks
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 80 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.0
Taro is a tropical plant with large, heart shaped leaves and a starchy corm that is a staple food in many cultures. It likes warmth, moisture and part shade, and it grows slowly. Expect to wait 7 to 12 months for a crop.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Plant from September to December once the soil is warm. Keep the bed moist and the plants out of the wind. Lift before the first frost (Yates). Taro is a declared weed in places such as Brisbane, so keep it out of waterways and drains.
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How to Grow Taro in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moisture holding soil with plenty of compost (Yates). Green Harvest gives a pH of 5.5 to 7.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 5.5-7.0
- Sunlight
- Part shade (Yates).
- Spacing
- 80cm apart, 180cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep the soil moist all the time. Taro grows best in wet, well mulched soil. Do not let it dry out.
- Good companions
- Ginger, Banana, Turmeric, Chinese Water Chestnut
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before root crops go back in. Roots fork and go leafy in fresh manure, so they take the bed after the heavy feeders have used it.
Subtropical Growing Tips for Taro
Recommended Varieties
- Chinese
Key Challenges
- Frost in winter
- Weed risk, especially in south east Queensland
- Dry spells
Pro Tips
- Grow it in a pot or a contained bed
- Lift before the first frost
- Mulch deeply
Harvesting Taro
When ready: The leaves begin to yellow and die down, about 7 months after planting (Gardenate) or 9 to 12 months (Yates, Green Harvest).
How to harvest: Lift the corms with a fork. Harvest before the first frost (Yates).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
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Common Questions About Taro
When do you plant taro in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Aug to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Nov
When should I plant Taro in Brisbane?
Plant from September to December once the soil is warm. Keep the bed moist and the plants out of the wind. Lift before the first frost (Yates). Taro is a declared weed in places such as Brisbane, so keep it out of waterways and drains.
What soil temperature do Taro need?
Taro germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 35°C.
How do I know when Taro are ready to harvest?
The leaves begin to yellow and die down, about 7 months after planting (Gardenate) or 9 to 12 months (Yates, Green Harvest).
What are the best Taro varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Chinese.
What grows well with Taro?
Good companion plants for Taro include: Ginger, Banana, Turmeric, Chinese Water Chestnut.
Are taro salt tolerant?
Only a little. Taro are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.