Hello,
I thought I had EE last year to find out there were not. now I believe I do have them and I am recovering from surgery and cant stay on here for long... so will make this fast... at one point did not know what end to plant now I see the two I have are starting to grow an dI will post a pic... Is this the proper place to post and ask about EE ???? I really am new but this year I want Banana and EE up in the ugly front yard, and I am not lazy just have not gotten out yet to find a book on these...Thanks... THe banana;'s I am know more about just not the EE...
Thank you so much..
Susan
New here/Elephant Ears
I am in zone 7a and got these at HD. there were not growing and went just to get out of house for was going crazy... Hubby found these they were 3.00 when we went back 3 days later to get more they were 7.00 lady said they were marked wrong... :-)
I dont know when to put in ground?
Susan off for a nap now..
Hi Susan, welcome and just a warning here. EEs can be quite addictive, you keep wanting MORE. Yes, you're in the right place for advice. One of the experts will be along soon and give you lots of good information. I do know that EEs love a warm ground and don't really start doing anything until then. You would plant yours with the growth tips up, that will be your leaves. If you have a place inside where they would get some sun, you could plant them (I would put each one in a gal pot) and let them start inside. Cover the new growth inch or two. Mine of that type do fine in the ground over winter. You're colder than I am but you should be ok.
Hi Susan!
Welcome. Well you are on the border of hardiness for most EE (most EE are hardy to zone 7b). I was in Zone 7a in NC. Most winters my EE would come through the winter; you might want to use mulch but make sure you get decent drainage. In NC my EE didn't come up until May, so don't dig them up by accident.
Hey, if you want to try a more hardy Colocasia (one of the 3 species of EE: alocasia, colocasia, xanthosoma), try Colocasia 'Pink China'.
I would suggest planting the EE in compost enriched soil once the night time temps are above the mid 50s (~mid May for you I think). Plant the corms so the growth tips are just ~1" below the surface.