Kbud

Say that 2 billion times quickly!



Hi all!!!!


Remember me from "The Pineapple Diaries" thread?


So, I am finally getting a sugar cane plant!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!! I am literally so excited! My dream has come true - not even kidding!!!!! I was seriously dreaming of sugar cane (yeah, don't know how that came about!!)

Anyway.

I would really like to ask a quick question or two. The first is soil related. My plants are going to arrive bare root. Obviously, I need soil. However, I hit a stuck point in research. It sounds like the plant is not too picky, but I read from a sugar cane grower (Ornamental Sugar Cane Plants - ChewingCane.com) that you should not use fertilizer as it may ruin taste and whatever you do, don't use manure or compost.


WHAT????????



In short, I am now at a loss for what to plant the plants in, as I would like to eat and process the cane. Is the statement above true, and what can I plant the cane in? I came across little during my research.



Second Question:

Sugar cane obviously does not grow naturally in upstate NY. Thus, my plants need to be inside for the winter under grow lights. My plants will not be mature before that time, but I will need to cut them down next to nothing so they can resprout from their roots and stay smaller until I can get them outside again. However, now I just have cut, somewhat immature cane. What can I do with it? Will it still juice into sweet juice I can boil down and make sugar out of? Will it be edible? Can I use the fiber? Or does my first little harvest of cane have to go on the compost pile...




Last question:

Do you guys have any uses for the fiber after it is juiced? I know of people who make yarn from cane, but I think it is a highly chemicalized process. I heard from one video that it can be used to feed cows, as well. I don't own a cow. It can also obviously be composted, but I would prefer to use the fiber for something else if I can. Any ideas?





Anyways, sorry for the long post, but thank you for all the help!! You guys (and girls) rock!!!



Thanks,
Kbud

__________________
Hi! My name is Spekter! Hopefully I can be of some help!

I grow tasty/useful tropical plants and carnivorous plants!

Check out my tasty tropical plants blog: http://spektersplants.wordpress.com

Snookie

Well I'll give it a try...As far as soil I grow mine down here in South Louisiana where cane grows very easily; however; I have grown it in 10 gal pots as well as 3 & 5 Gallon pots alsol.

Seems to do real well

Soil can be just about anything with a few nutrients I have found...

Again dat is just my opinion.

As far as what to do with it, all I do is have the grand kid's over and we cut
a chunk, chew it and spit the remain on the ground:}

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I will guarantee you this, if you try it and can overwinter it I think you'll be happy growing cane.

Go for it!

__________________
Mayor of Lizard Creek

Kbud

Thank you Snookie! I just ordered my cane today: a nice, healthy ratoon of "Georgia Red."

Its pretty and made for chewing!!!! I will also juice and make brown sugar out of it.

Snookie, can you eat immature cane? In order to overwinter my plant, it is going in a big container. I am going to have to cut it down to the ground The canes will not be mature. Can I eat them or use them anyway?

Soilwise, I bought a Michigan Peat topsoil as the main ingredient with a little bit of organic, mycrohorrizae enhanced citrus/succulent mix and a fair amount of perlite for drainage.




Here goes nothing!!!! So excited!!!!!!

__________________
Hi! My name is Spekter! Hopefully I can be of some help!

I grow tasty/useful tropical plants and carnivorous plants!

Check out my tasty tropical plants blog: http://spektersplants.wordpress.com

Snookie

Well now LOL

Down here we"ll damn near eat anything in South Louisiana

Not sure how sweet the cane will be if not mature but hell Crawfish ain't sweet either ....:}

Good Growing...

PLEASE PM me some pictures as you progress...

Peace Bee with U!

__________________
Mayor of Lizard Creek