Growing sugar cane in cold climates Zone 7a. Virginia grown sugar cane

[@justinciallella4724]

Nice man. I'm in SW VA, it's probably 6b here. I'd love to try it. I have various citrus, catley guavas, Suriname cherries, hardy avocados, hardy bananas, and an olive tree. I overwinter them in an unheated greenhouse attached to house, heating when temps dip below 23 in the greenhouse. I get great results with the citrus and guavas, the others not so much yet

[@GardenForaged]

That's a great collection of trees. Do you have a KZbin channel or Instagram where you post about your greenhouse. Would love to see it.

[@jenniferyoung8977]

That’s so cool! I didn’t know you could do that!

[@GardenForaged]

It was definitely a great surprise to get a decent harvest 😁

[@Hungry93]

Sick! I’m up here I’m Burke and I really wanted to grow some. My black bamboo is killing it so I was hoping sugar can would work. I’m going to do a massive pot though to keep it easier to move around . I’m excited now. Thanks for this!

[@GardenForaged]

Is the bamboo a clumping type? This year was rough for my sugar cane. It barely grew

[@Hungry93]

@@GardenForaged I don’t think it’s running or just has too much competition with the trees in the area. Bamboo seeds are some bullshit as a whole.I’ve been trying to grow bamboo in this one area for a long time. It’s all over the back

[@MrIgottap]

Good luck and good job man plus thanks for the video. I’m in zone 7a as well (PA) and recently stumbled onto the topic of cold climate cane. I haven’t committed to it yet, but you’ve given me hope and optimism. Been gardening and farming my whole life and enjoy experimenting with/adding new and different plants. I didn’t know sugarcane was possible in zone 6 and 7 until recently. But I do have some starts waiting for me to order in an online shopping cart.

[@GardenForaged]

Thank you! I love experimenting with new plants in zone 7. Check out some of my other videos on pomegranates, chayote, sesame seeds and a few other lol 😂

[@chrisMorrissey-k1i]

Hey I have been growing sugar this past spring and summer don’t think it is ready yet and it is big. What can I do so it doesn’t freeze? Can I build like a little greenhouse over it I would be using some clear plastic over it if you have some ideas please let me know thanks

[@GardenForaged]

@@chrisMorrissey-k1i I saw your other comment so I replied over there. Unless you are planning on heating up the little greenhouse they might still freeze. But the roots apparently might be cold hardy to our zone.

[@chrisMorrissey-k1i]

@@GardenForaged so if I can dig them up put them in a barn maybe get a heater going I think I might have some grow lights

[@gardenofseeden]

I grew some this year too but planted too late. They grew in South Jersey zone 7a but not big. I will mulch them hard to have them grow back.

[@GardenForaged]

Wow! That's nice- keep us posted in spring when they come back up 😊

[@GardenForaged]

Has the sugar come back for you?

[@2006aquila]

As a person from a tropical island. The top is what you save for replanting.

[@GardenForaged]

I haven't trued planting at the top. In El Salvador my dad used to plant several acres of sugar cane. They always used the mid sections to start the plantations.

[@chrisMorrissey-k1i]

I am also in Virginia and I started my cane this last spring they are big and should I just build something over and put some clear plastic do you think that will work or what should I do I need to know pretty quick fit is getting cold fast

[@GardenForaged]

If you have any canes you can harvest you should harvest them and eat them. This year mine is very small so I will just cover it with leaves and wood chips. Hopefully it comes back next spring. Last year I dug the plants and kept them in my greenhouse. There is a guy in Alabama zone 7b. He covers his roots with mulch and they come back for him. So that's why I'm going to try that this year. Wish me luck 😂

[@willhudson5625]

Wow very impressive!

[@GardenForaged]

Thank you 😊

[@MathijsHerremans]

I try to grow them in the Netherlands, zone 7. I recently bought a few pieces of cane. But now I read it can take 9-18 months before the cane is ready to harvest. What’s you’re experience, we both have winters. I think our summers are cooler then yours. I see you have a harvest, but I don’t think they grow 9-18 months right?

[@GardenForaged]

It doesn't take that long to produce an edible cane. I put mine in the ground after the last frost. Late April and I harvest right before my first frost in early November. So maybe 7 months. Apparently you can mulch them heavily and leave them in the ground. They come back every year. I will give that a try this upcoming winter

[@MathijsHerremans]

@@GardenForaged great! Thanks for your response.That’s what I was expected after seeing a few video's but the 9-18 months was strange for me. I will heavily mulch them. I saw a video weer they easily grow again after 0 Fahrenheit. Mine are growing just about to sprout, can is still expect a harvest?

[@GardenForaged]

@@MathijsHerremans yes I think you can still get a harvest this year

[@CitasJourney]

which h mart did you go to, did you go to the one at fredrick or no? and if no which one because i live near virginia

[@GardenForaged]

Most HMart or Latin Stores carry them. I found it at the Merrifield one

[@ItsJustGardening]

Pretty decent size 😊

[@GardenForaged]

Yea! I was surprised by the harvest. I will definitely get more for next year 👍

[@Herhighness211]

I love H-Mart.

[@GardenForaged]

It's one of my favorite grocery stores

[@daviddeen491]

Brilliant 👏

[@Black-gp8fn]

What variety of sugarcane is this?

[@GardenForaged]

Unfortunately I don't know what variety it is. I bought it from HMart

[@1990Jessy]

Might be a dumb question but can you make sugar out of it lol

[@GardenForaged]

You sure can! But it's a long process. You would juice it, then steam it and get some sugar.

[@1990Jessy]

@@GardenForaged thank you I was just curious. I'm not currently growing it or anything

[@dr.cigdemklc4315]

I LIVE THERE TOOOOO

[@GardenForaged]

Nice! I'm trying to grow it again this year but the lack of rain is hurting all of my plants 😞

[@lodollar23]

Which seed variety is this? I'm in georgia 7a

[@GardenForaged]

I bought a piece of sugar cane at an Asian grocery store. So I'm not sure what variety it is.

[@Mrwildah]

which variety is this?

[@GardenForaged]

I bought a piece of sugar cane at the grocery to start this project so I don't know the variety

[@Mrwildah]

@@GardenForaged I went to H-Mart yesterday and followed your lead. Looking forward to the results!

[@GardenForaged]

Did you have any luck growing it this summer? ​@@Mrwildah

[@Mrwildah]

@@GardenForagedno luck this go round. Bought some seeds from Amazon and they turned out to be sorghum