Sorghum and Broom Corn

Sorghum is a genus of grasses that include numerous species. For example, Sorghum bicolor is the species of sorghum primarily cultivated for its grain and used for food and animal feed. Some varieties, classified as "sweet sorghums," are also used as a raw material for their foliage, syrup, and ethanol production. The stalks are similar to corn but they do not produce ears. Seed heads appear from the tops of the plants instead of a tassel.

Sorghum originated in northern Africa, but is now widely cultivated. It is typically an annual, but some cultivars are perennial. It grows in clumps that can reach over ten to twelve feet high. Sorghum is the fifth major cereal grain crop in the world.

Cultivation Instructions:  Sorghum should be planted in warm soils after all danger of frost has past. The small seeds should be planted at a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Germination can take ten days or longer depending on weather conditions and soil temperature.

The seedlings may need to be thinned so that the plants are spaced six to eight inches apart. The plant will form many small "suckers." These suckers often produce a seed head so don't bother pruning them off.