Growing Black Sugarcane in Mumbai

“Shooting high through rain and shine, this cane grows strong and sweet,

Evidence of Will Divine, and glorious year-end treat!”

Related Topics: How to Grow, Growing Organically & The Art of Propagation!

Although a slow-growing fruiting crop by veggie standards, sugarcane is also hassle-free and will add foliage, privacy and considerable sensation value to your little urban farm! This page is about black sugarcane – a variety of cane that is sweeter, juicier, thicker at stem and more easily eaten than the other varieties.

SEASONS: Black sugarcane is an annual plant. It thrives in hot and humid climates and so is well-suited to growing in Mumbai. Since it takes nearly a year to grow to fullness, plant in early spring/January for a winter harvest by December.

PROPAGATING: This plant is very easily propagated from shoots/rooting branches. Choose branch segments of a freshly cut sugarcane that has intact, undamaged nodes or buds at its branch intersections.

GERMINATING: Place branch segments in water for a couple of days, to tenderize the buds for growth. When nodes are tender they are ready for planting out.

PLANTING OUT: Choose manure-rich soil in direct and strong sunlight. Sugarcane is not fussy about soil and will do well in acidic, neutral or alkaline soil. Similarly, it can grow well in clayey, clay loam or sandy soil – as long as the soil is rich in manure and organic nutrients. Dig long troughs in the soil about 8 inches deep. Plant your sugarcane branch segments laterally (sleeping position) with their nodes oriented upwards, into these troughs. Cover with earth, and water deeply. The first shoots will emerge from your sugarcane buds in about 2 weeks. Sugarcane will grow well on open plots or in deep, rectangular containers with enough length for its segments to be planted.

NURTURING: This is a very easy plant to grow and requires little nurturing besides deep, regular watering, and occasional pruning of dead leaves. It does not get preyed on by insects or other pests.  Keep adding compost and manure, as it will absorb all the nutrients you add to the mix. Given nutrient-rich soil, plenty of water and strong sunshine, your sugarcane will grow steadily, and in a couple of months you will see black cane emerge from ground level. After about 8 months of growth, the mother plant will give out feeder plants or “pups”.

HARVESTING: Harvest mature mother plants, or sugar canes after 10-12 months of growth, or when they grow to about 5 feet in height, and develop a sturdy roundness to their girth. Using a sharp sickle, cut the mature canes close to ground level where sweetness is most intense, taking care not to harm the cane “pups” around them. Keep watering and adding nutrients to the mix, as your cane “pups” will grow into your next season for harvest. Keep adding quality nutrients, growing cane, and enjoying it year after year!

  Sugarcane Sapling Sugarcane

Cane sapling emerging from bud at 3 weeks….sugar canes at 4 months

Sugarcane_Harvest2
Container-grown sugarcane ready for harvest at 11 months

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15 thoughts on “Growing Black Sugarcane in Mumbai”

  1. Navnath kadam

    hey i want to do farming of black sugar cane but i dont no where i get this plant can u suggest me about it

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    1. Mandy Post author

      The best way and time to propagate black sugarcane is at the end of season (harvest) when the markets are flooded with black sugarcane. It’s usually in December and January in Mumbai. Buy your canes and slice into segments with nodes. Then plant horizontally with the nodes facing sunwards. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to grow sugarcane! More details here: https://mumbaifarmer.com/what-to-grow/growing-sugarcane-in-mumbai/

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    1. Mandy Post author

      I’m not sure why. It could be that it (Asian black) is not a native species as it came from China originally, and so its gene pool is limited in India. Also, the relative benefit black sugarcane has over other varieties is its higher sucrose content and softer fibres making easier to eat. So perhaps the market for sugarcane as an edible fruit is very small and so commercially unfeasible. As of now, most of the sugarcane under production in India (2/3) goes toward the manufacture of gur and khandsari, and the rest (1/3) toward the manufacture of sugar. So most of it is a B to B product. The percentage sold in B to C for juicing and direct consumption is negligible.

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    1. Mandy Post author

      You can get black sugarcane in the market in December and January. Green sugarcane is available year round at any sugarcane juice vendor.

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  7. Vaibhav Basling umbarje

    Wanna cultivate2acre black sugar cane in South solapur.and want to know about marketing near by.so I can sold the black sugar cane to the market

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    1. Mandy Post author

      Hi Vaibhav…It’s a great idea to cultivate black sugarcane in Solapur. It is a water intensive crop so be prepared. Regarding marketing, unfortunately I do not have resources I can help you with. The agri market federations would be the best place to inquire with.

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