Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Foxtail millet (
Setaria italica
)
Sorghum (
Sorghum bicolor
)
Ripe proso millet
Another genus of plants with millet-like seeds is
Sorghum
. The cultivated species,
S. bicolor
, pro-
duces edible grains that are simply called sorghum. Sorghum's growth habit is very similar to that of
corn (maize); plants grow to be very tall, sometimes over 13 ft. (4 m), and the panicle, which sits atop
the plant like the tassel on corn, can be used as a broom. Some varieties are specifically for popping
like popcorn. Sorghum needs lots of heat, which is why it is so often grown in tropical climates.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• 20-30 ft.
2
(2-3 m
2
) patch or a field planted to grain
POLLINATION NOTES
Millet and sorghum are generally wind-pollinated outcrossers, though foxtail
millet primarily self-pollinates, depending on the weather. Separate multiple varieties of the same spe-
