I got this e-mail three weeks ago:
“Hi David!
Just wondering if you’d post a current picture of your sugar cane patch.
You inspired my dad and I to plant some in our meadow last November, and I’d like to see how ours is doing compared to yours since this is a new thing for us. By the way, the cane we planted in November sprouted right away and grew all winter here in High Springs despite some decent freezes.
Thanks!
Ivy Mae.”
I’ve been busy, plus it slipped my mind, until I was out in the yard this last weekend and went, “Hey, I need to shoot a picture of the sugarcane for that gal that wrote me!”
So… here it is:
The tallest canes are likely 5′ or so in height. We’ve gotten a few days of rain so they should really shoot for the sky now. It’s also time for me to throw on some chicken manure… just haven’t gotten around to that yet.
The bed isn’t as thick as I would like this year, but we’ll still have plenty we can use for cane syrup by November.
Anyone else growing sugar cane? Got a progress report?
17 responses to “Sugar Cane Patch: July 2014 Update”
Thank you! That's about what ours looks like now. So looking forward to trying out that syrup making technique this fall.
So it struck me this week while we were out of town adopting our second son (hey, isn't that neat how I slipped that news in there?!) how thankful I am for all our food-producing plants that don't require daily care. I had to leave detailed instructions for my dad about taking care of my garden and animals, but the bananas, chickasaw plums, mulberries, sugar cane, figs, and elderberries just kept on keepin on. Can't ask for more than that!
Let us know when you decide the cane is ready to cut!
–Ivy
Congratulations on the adoption! How marvelous!
Yes… animals and vegetable gardens are time sinks… perennials are not. I got rid of my chickens for that reason and have concentrated on the long-term easy food production instead.
Glad your cane is doing well. Up here it suddenly starts looking like serious cane in August/September. I cut mine just before the first predicted frost… most often in late November.
Hello david or anyone else can help i live in ocala florida and i am looking for some sugar cane near me plz help
It's getting a little late in the year to find planting material. Check the local farmer's markets for cane – you can plant what you find.
Hi David, The piece of sugar cane you gave me never did sprout. It may have been ate by some underground critter.
That's a possibility. I can send you more this fall when I have pieces again.
Hi David, thanks for the picture! I was thinking that the cane I have planted wasn't growing very fast but it looks yours.
Persimmon, Pear, Chaya etc that i bought from you at the Blueberry Farm (Those are great Blueberries!) are all doing well too.
Good. We're all in the slow-growing cane camp. Whew.
Glad your plants are doing well… stop by and visit me at the 326 Community Market any time you're in town!
Hi, David-
I'm in the Orlando area so don't get to Ocala much at all. Do you ever provide mail order service for things like this? If so, what time of year would I plant? Really enjoying the blog- learned a ton already.
Yes – e-mail me off the "Contact David" link in the sidebar.
Fall seems to be the best time to plant sugarcane.
And thank you for the kind words… glad you're enjoying the site. :)
Rain is good for plants as plants get water but it is harmful in excess. There are many rainy seasonal plants present and their growth takes place in a rapid manner. Farmers should plant these plants in rainy season. Basically many flowers plants come under this. With this we have to take care of these plants by applying plant foods.
Hi David. I live in OK….bought a place with sugar cane already growing….in 2011…have done nothing with the patch….it is very tall and dry looking….was thinking about getting rid of it. What do you think? I had never thought of harvesting it until I read your posts today. Should I go out and cut a piece approximately 3 inches for the ground, take off the outer leaves and look for green inside. How do you get sugar from the stems?
Thank you
Cut it back, water it well and give it a lot of nitrogen. Search for sugarcane in the search box on my site and I have a lot more info on getting the sugar out.
We are trying to get rid of the sugar cane. Has taken over and is unruly. What do we need to do to kill it so it won’t come back.
I would just dig up the clumps of roots – that’s your best bet.
Do you sell any sugar cane?
No