Growing sugar cane in your garden will give you sweet rewards.
Sugar cane is a genus of large perennial grasses that is native to tropical southeastern Asia.
Depending on the species, the grass ranges in color from green to red to purple.
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What all species have in common is their sizethey grow up to 20 feet tall.
In warm climates, you’re free to grow sugar cane right in your backyard.
Sugar cane is one of the worlds biggest crops, with the vast majority grown and harvested in Brazil.
Plant in a location withfull sunand plenty of space to grow upward and outward.
The leaves of sugar cane have sharp edges.
To avoid injuries, dont plant it in locations with lots of traffic or near pathways.
Because of its large size, the plant is prone to wind damage.
Plants benefit from being placed in locations with windbreaks, such as near fences or dense trees.
Light
Like most grasses, sugar cane grows quickly and requires intense, full sun.
Provide your sugar cane with 8 or more hours of direct sunlight a day.
Give plants plenty of water while they are actively growing.
While they tolerate brief dryness, a lack of water over long periods hinders growth and sugar production.
Temperature and Humidity
Being a tropical plant, sugar cane requires heat and humidity for good growth.
Fertilizer
Fast-growing plants usually require large amounts of nutrients, and sugar cane is no exception.
Fertilize your sugar cane with ahigh-nitrogen fertilizer30 days after planting and every month thereafter.
Pests and Problems
Sugar canes are hardy plants.
Disease detection is often difficult because of their quick growth and large size.
However,some common pestsinclude spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and grasshoppers.
If you detect an infestation, use organic pesticides such as pyrethrin andneem oil.
Never use synthetic pesticides on sugar cane or other edible plants.
How to Propagate Sugar Cane
To propagate sugar cane, you need stalk cuttings.
The seeds of sugar cane do not produce plants that are true to the parent.
Cut mature cane stalks into smaller sections, each with at least two nodes.
Note that sugar cane cannot be stored for long periods and should be replanted within a few weeks.
The survival rate depends on the severity of winter in a given year.
When ready, the plants begin to yellow, and the leaves dry out along the edges.
After all stalks have been cut from the plant, cut them into smaller sections.
sinensefrom Southeast Asia, most commercially available plants are complex hybrids of multiple species.
Various species are grown based on whether they are meant for chewing, dry sugar, or syrup production.
While often referred to as sugar cane and grown for its sugar content, sweet sorghum (Sorghumspp.
and hybrids) is not the same kind of plant as true sugar cane (Saccharumspp.).
This practice is not necessary in the home garden and not recommended.
