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Post by farmerkevin on Feb 14, 2015 14:19:33 GMT -5
A friend of mine in the nursery business brought me a sugar cane "stalk". I asked him if I could plant it, but broken English/Spanish, I gathered very little. I believe he said plant it on its side, because at every joint will sprout a new stalk(?) (the stalk is about 3 feet long) I'm in zone 9 I believe. Will sugar cane grow in this area? Is it invasive like bamboo? Can it be grown in containers? How much water does it take? I have stevia for a sugar substitute. I also have honeysuckle. I was going to plant persimmon, but if this sugar cane will grow and produce, it'll be a welcome addition to the garden Thanks in advance
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Post by breezygardener on Feb 14, 2015 14:24:50 GMT -5
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Post by ncgarden on Feb 14, 2015 16:05:38 GMT -5
Speaking only from my personal experience as a kid growing up in Florida, it grew very easily, and although not invasive, it will spread fairly easily. I am not sure your climate is wet enough for it? It likes it hot and damp.
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Post by gakaren on Feb 15, 2015 9:44:14 GMT -5
It grows well here in SW Ga., zone 8. It may like it damp, but it survived during our extended years of drought here. There is one small town within driving distance for us that has a festival every year where they cook it down. Fun to see & watch!
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Post by OregonRed on Feb 15, 2015 13:59:48 GMT -5
is Hawaii the sugar can growing capital of the U.S.?
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Post by gakaren on Feb 15, 2015 20:48:28 GMT -5
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 15, 2015 20:54:12 GMT -5
wow Florida and Louisiana are substantially above Hawaii. I would have never guessed. Hawaii would have been my first, as well
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Feb 15, 2015 23:29:42 GMT -5
I had thought that there was some sugar cane grown in Michigan and Karen's research supported that. Now I'm wondering if that would be a good crop to grow in my own garden.
What's involved in harvesting it and turning it into sugar?
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 15, 2015 23:59:44 GMT -5
Michigan is actually listed with the states that grow sugar beets. Two very different crops that are refined very differently to produce sugar. Though the industry will argue that there is no difference between cane and beet sugar, it is believed that cane sugar is the superior product especially in baked goods. Beet sugar is cheaper to produce, requiring less steps to refine and can be grown in a far wider range of areas. and climates.
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Post by gakaren on Feb 16, 2015 0:49:06 GMT -5
Sugar BEETS are also GMO'd, while at this point CANE isn't....but Monsanto is working on it in S. America...the last I heard.
That festival that we attend, they cut the cane, they grind the cane, they cook it down into cane syrup. I don't know what all is involved to process it into granular sugar like we get at the store....I've never seen that done. But cane syrup sopped up with homemade biscuits is quite common here in the south. And kids enjoy sucking on a stick of cane for a treat too.
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 16, 2015 1:25:10 GMT -5
That's good to know about beet sugar and GMO's- didn't know that
And only cane produces molasses. (and raw sugar which still has some molasses in it.)
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Post by farmerkevin on Feb 16, 2015 2:28:12 GMT -5
And something I read elsewhere is that just because it says "sugar" in the ingredient list on something in the grocery store, does NOT necessarily mean cane sugar. It could mean beet sugar. I found this out because I try my damnedest to avoid HFCS. I try to avoid sugar too (in excessive amounts) but I believe sugar is a hair better than HFCs. Although both are bad in excessive amounts!
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