Growing Duruka/Saccharum edule

Jo starts with ...
I am wondering if anyone knows if you can grow Duruka (fijian name)or PitPit(SE Asian name)/Saccharum edule in QLD.
I wouldn't even know where to start looking for it or even if we are allowed to grow it because of sugarcane regulations(it can carry some sort of sugar cane fungus-I think).....boy its tasty though!!

Jude says...
I too have been looking for a Saccarum edule plant. I bought a plant labelled Pitpit / Darooka (Saccaram spotaneum) from Isabell Shipard's Herb Nursery near Gympie a couple of years ago. It appears to be very similar. The shoots were described as an edible delicacy. Mine has yet to flower.

Rev says...
of course its here.
you just have to befriend the right people.
2 hints. they have a good sense of humour and fuzzy hair.
you can also get nice pieces of domestic cane cultivars for chewing. I saw a lovely variegated one looked like a striped bamboo.

Looks like Cane smut is here now anyway
was bound to arrive sooner or later

Rev says...
There would be rules about movement of sugar canes, but only within designated areas. Like with bananas
If you are outside the zones then therd be no restrictions

for example im sure thered be no rules against growing it in sydney

Rev says...
Does anyone know about Highland pit pit? from PNG
Setaria palmifolia

i keep reading its edible, but how? published info is thin on the ground for PNG vegetables

Jude says...
When I lived in PNG in the 60s and 70s I regularly bought two varieties of pitpit - Saccharum edule and Setaria palmifolia from the markets. In both cases, what is eaten is the fleshy unopened flowering shoot of a coarse grass. We generally cooked pitpit in the same way as sweet-corn, by steaming or baking in their outer leaves. S. edule was often steeped in coconut milk and boiled and this made it a real delicacy. I have since tried to grow both varieties, but without success.

I have a copy of R.J. May's book, 'Kaikai Aniani - A Guide to Bushfoods Markets and Culinary Arts of Papua New Guinea' (1984) which has the following entry on Highland Pitpit ..."NEW GUINEA ASPARAGUS, HIGHLAND PITPIT. This is a coarse grass which is cultivated and occurs wild. Cultivated varieties are found in most markets around the country. Many varieties exist, some with broad, dark green leaves, some with red. The soft inner shoot of the plant is eaten, and in the market the bundles of these long thin greens may be mistaken for the enclosed infloresences of Saccharum edule (also called pitpit). Strip the outside leaves and steam or bake. the cooked vegetable tastes something like corn-flavoured asparagus. The soft inner shoot may also be eaten raw."

The book has an excellent photo showing the two varieties side-by-side. The S. edule shoots are red-tinged and much larger and plumper.

peter says...
Suren, we can help with nitrogen packing technology. Please let us know the volume of business you can do for us to quote on the technology. Please provide your contact details.

Mike says...
It is listed as one of the plants available at Shipards Herb Farm at Nambour.I understand they are a well known outfit.

sai says...
I strongly recommend that duruka is planted far away from sugar cane because it is an alternate host of Fiji leaf gall disease which is caused by a virus and is classed as a serious disease in Australia. It sure tastes delicious though especially in coconut cream....cheers!!

John Mc says...
It'll be fine there Mary and in Sydney it will be fine in a pot as well. I've got it growing at my place only an hour's drive north of Sydney. It certainly doesn't perform as well as it does in the tropics, but it survives and grows slowly. My ordinary sugar cane, green and red vars. are doing well after two seasons in the ground.

micarle says...
MaryT i have the purple sugarcane growing in the ground and i get down to zero most winters, tough plants

Jill says...
I am really interested to get a plant of Daruka (pit pit) and would appreciate anyone giving me some info on where to get it. I grew up in Fiji and really enjoy the local Fiji food.

Hakwa says...
Hi,
We have a farm in Sigatoka Fiji and we are the largest producers of Duruka in Fiji. We vacuum pack, seal and sell in the export market and domestically in Fiji.
My email : ceocmda@gmail.com

Regards

emnau says...
we grow pit-pit tweed heads nsw for twenty years. ex-png. Microwave, butter, maggi sauce. many p.i.'s have in their gardens

Mike says...
Flowers only John Mc and my ones are 4m tall and ready for picking right now.You were the source,thanks.

Sashi says...
Are you able to send me some seeds so I can grow them?

Kissi Klink says...
Pitpit is widely grown in Cairns, Australia. Being a tropical plant it survives here but only bears in the month of May every year.

prem says...
please contact me

Tau says...
Hi Prem,
you can contact me on 0430836605

thanks
Tau

Mike Tr says...
I hacked mine out last year but spread some cuttings around. Some people who grow red pit pit didn't have the green kind like mine.I can keep an eye out.

Amram says...
There is fresh daruka from Queensland being sold in Sydney. Look for it in Sydney Market or Indian shops