People think the sugar they eat comes from complex chemical processes done in factories. But that’s FAR from the truth.
The sweet powder comes from the sugar cane. A plant that looks like your favorite healthy crops (quinoa and oatmeal) but tastes like the worst candy bar out there (as sweet as you can imagine).
For that reason, learning how to grow sugar cane is one of the most exciting things anyone can do.
Why?
Because you’ll be getting that sugar directly from your garden. Because the plant has the appeal of most farm crops. And because you can eat it almost directly from the cane (how many plants can you do that with?).
The downsides? None.
Below, we’ll teach you everything you need to grow it!
What is a Sugar Cane?
Let’s say you go to an African, Asian, or Caribbean country and see someone grinding the cane on a machine.
The liquid that comes off it is super-sweet. You buy a glass of it. And to your surprise, it feels almost like fruit pulp.
So, is cane a fruit then?
WRONG.
Sugar cane is a tropical plant. It looks like bamboo, and it’s actually pretty similar. In fact, it is also a type of grass.
Yes, you read that right.
Its scientific name is Saccharum officinarum. This uniquely sugary plant is a type of grass-like perennial.
It can grow upwards of 20 feet given the right conditions. And because it is a tropical plant, it LOVES hot, humid, and nutrient-rich environments.
The center of the plant is edible in the right season. And for weird reasons, it is SWEET like no other plant.
No wonder you’ll eventually realize the sugar cane is where the actual SUGAR you buy in the supermarket comes from.
Sugar Cane Plant Needs
With a clearer idea of what sugar cane is, let’s go into its requirements:
Space and Potting
Because the plant can grow almost like bamboo (produces several canes and grows very high), it is a plant that needs TONS of space.
For that reason, planting it on pots is not the best idea. Of course, it works for the first few weeks when the plant needs to be taken care of. But after it starts to grow past 1 foot – then it’s time to transplant in a garden.
When planting in gardens, you need to leave at least 4 inches between canes and no less than 10 inches from other plants. The reason? It starts to take a lot more space as it grows, so it could need a lot over time without causing damage or getting damaged by other plants.
Soil and Fertilizer
Being a tropical plant, there’s no doubt sugar canes require a lot of nutrients. While they aren’t the hungriest of plants, they are like grass, so they quickly consume tons of nutrients.
But it is not only about richness. The plant also has a preference for well-drained soils. Preferably, these soils should be a bit crumbly and soft. Tough sandy soils are often not ideal.
Apart from that, it doesn’t like alkaline or acidic soils. A neutral soil pH of 6 to 6.5 would be an ideal level.
And lastly, you need to ensure proper compost and fertilizer over time. Given its high nitrogen needs, you can’t leave these out of the question.
Water and Humidity
One of the advantages of tropical plants is their ability to thrive in both relatively dry and humid environments. The sugar cane is one of those.
But there’s a catch: it grows better when the soil is moist. Humid regions tend to increase their growth rate as well as their size. Rain-rich environments, for example, are almost perfect for sugar cane.
If you live in a dry area, you can still grow sugar cane, though. But in that case, you will need a lot of irrigation for the best results. Strive for at least 1 inch of water per week.
Light and Air
Total sun exposure is an essential part of most tropical plants. Once again, sugarcane is no exception.
If you can ensure anywhere from 6 to 10 hours of daily sunlight, that would be ideal.
It doesn’t require any special air needs, but it’s better to keep refreshed, especially as it grows, and the pollen of its flowers depend on wind to be dispersed.
Temperature and Environment
As you can guess, this is not a cold-environment plant at all. The total opposite, it thrives on zones 9 to 10 of hardiness. This means anywhere from 55 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Anything lower than 55 degrees could cause deep trouble. For one, the plant will struggle to absorb nutrients. Secondly, the leaves will start to turn brown. And third, the plant doesn’t have any mechanism against frost – so it will get damaged directly.
The best way to grow sugarcane? Tropical-like environments with little to no frost. In case you live in a place with frosting winters, you may need to take the plant indoors.
But that’s a bother because it 100% prefers growing outdoors to receive full sun and enough win in the pollinating season.
How to Grow Sugar Cane
You’ve gone through all the primary requirements for sugarcane’s growth. Now let’s teach you how to plant it and help it grow into a healthy and majestic cane forest:
1. Start at the Ideal Time
Given you’re in the correct hardiness zone, you’ll have to plant the sugar cane either in the summer or in late fall, as a maximum.
The cutting will probably start rooting in winter, so it is growing already by spring, probably even flowering.
For places where temperatures fall below 55 degrees, you will have a better time planting the sugarcane in late spring to late summer. This way, it has enough time to root before winter arrives.
In this case (cold area), you’d have a better experience keeping the cane indoors in winter.
2. Choose a Proper Area
Once you’ve figured out when to plant the sugar cane, decide WHERE you’re doing so.
Like said before, sugar cane grows high and has some of the densest foliage. This makes them ideal for extensive gardens, preferably with over 10 inches of space between plants.
By the way, many people use sugar canes as cover for other plants. And they can quickly become landscape borders or work as walkway walls.
3. Pick the Right Sugar Canes
You know when and where to plant the sugar canes. Now decide WHICH sugar canes you’re choosing in the first place.
Here, we recommend stem cuttings. These are often sold online. But if you’re going the more natural way, try to select a cutting from the healthiest plants possible.
This means getting a sugar cane in the ideal season (late spring to early fall) seems thick and juicy. The thickest stems are the best.
Also, search for those stems with small joints or little branches, as those are the parts that will eventually grow into the foliage.
4. Prepare the Sugar Cane Cutting
After getting the cutting, it is time to prepare it for the planting.
Preferably, you will choose a cutting that’s a foot long or slightly smaller. If it has the proper joints, you will only have to remove the flowers.
It is wise to let the cutting rest for a few days up to a week. Prepare a pot with a bit of soil and water. This would make it believe it is planted, so it will start sprouting roots.
When you see the roots going out, then you can proceed to plant it.
5. Build the Trenches
To plant the sugarcane, however, you’ll need an almost pristine spot. This is where large and broad trenches come into play.
As you may guess, you won’t plant the sugar cane like you would any other plant (with the branch/stem pointing downwards). Instead, you will place the cutting horizontally on the trench.
The joints that are coming out should eventually become the stem, and the roots will come out from the cut parts.
For that, you need to dig a few trenches, preferably 4-inch deep or a bit more. They should also be around 2-3 inches broad, so the cutting fits inside.
6. Prepare the Soil
The furrows should not be completely dry. Instead, they should be a bit moist, preferably humid but with no puddles.
Also, try to pour some manure or high-quality compost into the area. If you can add some slow-release fertilizer rich in nitrogen, that will also help.
7. Plant the Cane
Now proceed to plant the cane cuttings. Each cutting should be at least 10 inches apart. But if you have ample enough space, plant them at about 3 to 6 feet apart.
They should go horizontally in the trenches, as explained before. Then cover the cuttings with soil until they’re covered by a thin layer of soil (less than an inch preferably).
Proceed to water for a bit, and that’s it.
8. Let it Grow
It’s time to let it grow. After a few weeks, you will see how the joints start to sprout about the 5th or 6th week.
Make sure you keep watering at least once a week, and it receives a lot of sun. That should hold it growing for a few months until it is a grown cane (3 to 4 feet).
How to Harvest Sugar Cane
Let’s say you’re growing the sugar cane because you want to enjoy the sugary treats that come from the interior.
How can you harvest that interior?
Here are a few steps to follow:
- Let the canes grow until they look thick and at least 4-5 feet in size. Preferably, they’ve already gone through their first frost/winter.
- Then, wait until late September or late October. This is the time when sugarcane is at its finest for harvest.
- Now find a machete or pruning saw (something potent enough to cut bamboo-like wood).
- Start cutting the cane, but only close to the ground. This would prevent the plant from dying.
- At the same time, try not to disturb the roots. This way, it will keep growing after harvested.
- Finish by pulling the stem out of the trunk. You should have your sugar cane ready to be processed into a sugary drink or sugar itself.
It’s important to mention that sugarcane’s first yield is often bigger than the subsequent ones. So if you want as much harvest the following year, you may need to plant a few more sugar canes before winter arrives.
How to Take Care of Sugar Cane
Regardless of how or where you plant it, you will need to do proper sugar cane plant care. Here are a few recommendations to follow:
Get Rid of Small Canes
Some of the canes will grow small and thin. These are not useful for harvesting and often make the plant look lousy. To fix this, just cut those small stems off. A pruning saw or shears will suffice.
Fertilize Consistently
Sugar cane is a heavy feeder. Nothing will help you boost its growth, like keeping the soil fertilized. Use a fertilizer with high nitrogen content for the best results. An alternative is chicken manure and tons of compost.
Remove Weeds
Like most grass types, the sugar cane also gets affected when weeds start to take hold of their space. This is especially true if you want the new sprouts to keep growing.
There’s no better way to prevent this than to get rid of all the weeds as they appear. Use mulch if you want to keep weeds from growing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Find yourself a bit confused about the sugar cane? Don’t worry, here are some common questions with their respective answers that may help you:
Where to grow sugar cane?
In a large garden bed preferably. Indoors inside a pot if you want to prevent damage from winter frosts.
Can you grow sugar cane indoors?
Yes, you can grow it indoors. You will need to ensure proper sun exposure in that case. Don’t expect the plant to grow past 4 or 5 feet, though.
How long does it take for a sugar cane to grow?
A year is enough for the plant to reach full maturity. In some cases, 8 months is enough to reach its full height.
Does sugar cane plant have flowers?
Yes. They are pink and look a lot like a fluffy animal tail.
Conclusion
Once you’re done learning how to grow sugar cane, you’ll realize the process is a lot easier than it seems.
Processing your own sugar at home will actually become a possibility. But sticking with a bit of sugarcane juice once a year should suffice.
Anyway, it’s time to put all the knowledge about to work. That sugarcane won’t grow itself!