In the Miscanthus (elephant grass) growth cycle, new shoots are formed annually, which usually come out in April at a soil temperature of 10-12 degrees Celsius. In the first year after planting, the stems reach a length of approximately 1 – 1.5 meters in August with a diameter of approximately 10 mm. The stems seem to be between bamboo and reeds, are usually unbranched and have a marrow-filled core. From the first year after planting, the crop will develop until it can eventually reach a length of 3 – 3.5 meters (year 4), but this is also dependent on circumstances such as weed suppression at the start and soil quality.
From the end of July, the plant starts drying slowly from the bottom, this process accelerates in the autumn when the nutrients move to the rhizomes. At this moment the leaves fall to the ground and a dense foliage is formed. If there is still leftover foliage this will die off during the frost, during the winter the crop will dry further. Around February there will not be much Miscanthus left in the field after losing the leaves and the Miscanthus (elephant grass) will be ready for harvest around March – April. When the outside temperature increases, the growth cycle is repeated.
