The invention relates to a method for harvesting sugarcane by means of a harvesting machine (20), wherein leaves (15) of at least one sugarcane plant (10) are mechanically separated from at least one stalk (12), preferably from a plurality of stalks (12), of the sugarcane plant (10) by means of at least one defoliating unit (23), wherein the stalk (12) is separated from the root stock (17a) by means of at least one stalk separating unit (25) and the frond (13) at the end of the stalk (12) is separated from the stalk (12) by means of at least one stalk-cutting unit (21). According to the invention, the frond (13) is separated from the stalk (12) before defoliating the stalk (12) and is discarded and/or transported away.
