Prepare a plot that receives full sun during the morning. Break the soil with a pitchfork or rototiller to create a light and airy planting medium
Perform a soil test to determine the pH of the soil. Modify the soil if the pH test comes back unfavorable. Dasheen prefers soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. A soil test that reveals a pH below 5.5 requires the addition of lime, while a pH above 6.5 benefits from the addition of peat moss to lower alkalinity. Add the modifier according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the package label.
Press one Japanese taro cutting halfway into the soil, vertically. If planting more than one, space each taro cutting at least 18 inches from the next, with a three- to four-foot spacing in between each dasheen cutting.
Run a soaker hose through the planting location to ensure that the soil remains moist at all times. The soil should never be allowed to dry out during the growing season nor should it ever be sopping wet.
Feed the Japanese taro a diet of 16-16-16 fertilizer two months after planting and again at four months and six months after planting. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use before applying the fertilizer.