• Bud germination- usually takes place 1-1.5 months after planting. At this stage, it needs warms temperature, sufficient moisture, and long days for proper development.
• Tillering- takes place within 2-4 months. This stage is critical in determining the sucrose content of the plant at harvest time.
• Stalk elongation- takes place within 5-8 months after planting and greatly affects tonnage.
• Ripening of stalks- occurs at 9-12 months wherein sugar is accumulated and growth is limited.

The climatic requirements in the 1^st and 3^rd stags ensure high tonnage while the last stage ensures increase in sugar content.

 Figure 1. Sugarcane plant at three months after planting