[Syrupmakers] Thinning out of sugar cane?

[Richard Hash]

I'm using it for syrup, and have been pretty happy with it. My mature canes
are usually 1 1/8" to 1 1/2" (1.5" would be the biggest I've seen it). I'm
not sure what "big" would be for sugar cane, but 1.25" is plenty big enough
for me. I was getting one gallon of juice from a little over six stalks
last year, and I don't irrigate, but again, I don't know what is considered
good or bad there..

Here is a photo of an average sized cane for me -
https://goo.gl/photos/uJQc1qD8FYcPhTTn6

I also realized I mistakenly duplicated the original set of photo links
instead of providing two unique ones, so let me try again:
Here is a photo of the current clump from what was a single stalk 5 years
ago - see https://goo.gl/photos/Ysg4QneD838QRUv58
 And here is this years growth from just two stalks from last year only -
see https://goo.gl/photos/nEpBCQHVbxfSxpQg8

I keep thinking it will crowd itself out and start producing smaller
stalks, but it hasn't yet. But eventually?? Seems like it has to...(???)

<https://goo.gl/photos/nEpBCQHVbxfSxpQg8>

--/Richard

On Fri, May 13, 2016 at 12:00 PM, <syrupmakers-request at syrupmakers.net>
wrote:

> Date: Thu, 12 May 2016 23:08:30 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Richard Harrison
> To: A list for sorghum and cane syrupmakers
>         <syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net>
> Subject: Re: [Syrupmakers] Thinning out of sugar cane?
>
> This is one of the reasons that I don't grow that species of cane. It
> grows too thick, multiplies too much and usually makes smaller diameter
> stalks. I don't know what your intention is for using it, but if you want
> sugar or syrup, I would?suggest switching to a larger stalked variety that
> doesn't multiply so well. If you want it for livestock, it is great! I got
> rid of all varieties of that species for my particular use.  Regards,
> Richard Harrison, NW FL? (I have kin S of Houston)
>
>       From: Richard Hash
>  To: syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net
>  Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 4:58 PM
>  Subject: [Syrupmakers] Thinning out of sugar cane?
>
> This question is for sugar cane, not sure if it is relevant for sorghum or
> not.? I'm about 20 miles south of Houston, TX, growing an unknown variety
> of some Asian green cane. This is all hand-harvested with a machete, no
> mechanization at all.
> The question is - should I be thinning the sprouts out? At the end of each
> year I cut all stalks down flush with the ground, and then even more
> sprouts back the next spring.? This is unfertilized, unirrigated, untended,
> I basically just ignore the whole patch until November. But my sprout-back
> rate is getting ridiculous and even though it sounds labor intensive, I'm
> wondering if I should be thinning things out. I can't even get to the
> "interior" stalks without cutting down everything on the "outside" down
> first.
> Here is a photo of the current clump from what was a single stalk 5 years
> ago - see https://goo.gl/photos/Ysg4QneD838QRUv58 And here is this years
> growth from just two stalks from last year only - see
> https://goo.gl/photos/Ysg4QneD838QRUv58
> I have had one agricultural extension agent tell me "definitely without a
> doubt you will ruin your yield without thinning them out", but I thought I
> would see what kind of experiences other people have had....
> Thanks,--
> --/Richard
>
>
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