Growing Sugar Cane

Sugar cane is a tropical plant, from where we get all the sugar for our yummy desserts and our regular cup of coffee. Growing sugar cane is best in warm, bright, sunny, and a frost-free weather. The soil required for it should be fertile and well drained. Whether you are a gardening enthusiast and are looking to plant something different this time, or you want to grow sugar cane just to make yourself some delightful sugar cane juice, here's everything on growing this plant.

Planting Sugar Cane in a Pot

For those who are keen on growing sugar cane in smaller quantities, potting it is a good idea. Take a look at this procedure that tells you how to grow the sugarcane plant in a pot.

1. You will first have to buy a healthy sugar cane stalk that is 6 feet long. You will find this at a nursery, a health store, or even online. It should consist of at least ten buds, along every 6 inches of the stalk. These are encircled by rings, like those on a bamboo plants.
2. If you are unable to find such a stalk, you may purchase several smaller stalks, but ensure they have at least a bud or two.
3. Now cut the stalk into halves using a saw. You will now have two stalks of 3 feet and at least 5 buds each.
4. You will require a seed tray, upon which the two stalks are laid horizontally. Fill the seed tray with one part potting compost and one part grit. Now lay about 2 inches of compost on the stalks after you have placed them on the seed tray. Pour water of the tray and ensure the soil is moist enough.
5. Use a clear plastic lid or a plastic bag to cover the seed tray, and place it in bright sunlight. Ensure you water the plant regularly to maintain the moisture levels in the plant.
6. In about three weeks you will see a new stalk, called 'ratoon' sprout. You can now remove the plastic bag.
7. When the shoots grow to about 3 inches, pick out the ratoons and plant them into individual pots. These pots should have drainage holes. For the soil, use an all-purpose potting mix or a potting compost along with a topsoil mixture.
8. To ensure that the soil remains moist, water the sugar canes at least 3 times per week, and place the pots in bright sunlight.
9. Move the plant into a larger pot once it starts growing, and harvest it when the sugar cane stalks reach a height of 3 - 3½ feet. It takes almost a year, and sometimes a little longer, to be able to harvest the stock, even from a potted plant.

Growing Sugar Cane on Land

If you have an empty patch of land, in your garden or backyard, you can even grow sugar cane there.

1. Obtain sugar cane stalks, as mentioned above. These should be the long ones, with at least 10 buds, each.
2. Dig horizontal trenches about 4 inches deep in the soil, and six feet apart from each other, for easy cultivation and weed control. Ensure the soil is well drained and fertile.
3. Cut the sugar cane stalk into two halves, and lay them horizontally, in the trenches. Cover them with soil, so that the roots begin to gain hold in it.
4. The stalk can grow up to a height from 4 feet to 12 feet.
5. As mentioned above, it may take almost a year to 18 months for a stalk to mature. Once they have matured, you can harvest them.

Important Tips

1. Once planted, sugar cane can grow and regrow at least 2 - 3 times. So if you've harvested once, you can keep using the same plant to grow more.
2. To avail of this benefit of growing sugar cane, ensure that you cut the stalk very close to the soil. Keep following the regular light and watering procedure.
3. Sugar cane leaves are very sharp, so while harvesting, wear good gloves, and full sleeved clothing to prevent hurting yourself.
4. Ensure you regularly get rid of the dead leaves and weeds from the soil, else the growth of the sugar cane stalk can be stunted.
5. If you live in an area that does not have much natural sunlight, you can use 40-watt grow lights to grow the sugar cane plant. This is possible only with potted sugar cane.

Enjoy your new hobby, to gain sweet returns from this perennial plant. As you have seen, growing sugar cane is very simple, as long as you follow simple procedures like providing it the right climate and fulfilling its moisture requirements.