A Helpful Guide for People Wanting to Grow Sorghum

Sorghum is a grain-producing crop that has provided plenty of benefits to the world. People make this plant into various food items for both human and animal consumption. In fact, this can also be made into household items such as brooms. The grain is celebrated in Blairsville, Georgia through its annual Sorghum Festival. Here is a guide for growing the third most famous grain in the U.S.

The Right Kind of Climate to Grow Sorghum

There are sorghum varieties developed for different environmental conditions. As this plant is a warm season grass, it is best to grow it during the year’s warmer months.

• Soil Conditions- Due to the tolerance of sorghum to various soil conditions, it is considered as a desirable crop. Compared with other grains, sorghum tolerate flooding due to winter thaws and spring rains as well as wet soils making it a great pick for floodplain crops. Crop yields can be affected by precipitation timing. When drought takes place during the grain’s eagerly growth, the sorghum crop yield is expected to be less. But, sorghum crops tend to have less financial risk than corn during variable weather conditions. Soils that are slightly acidic are preferred by sorghum.
• Arid Conditions- Sorghum is expected to thrive at its best in arid conditions. For maximum yield, air temperatures in July should be at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit to make sure there is proper soil temperature. Sorghum’s waxy leaves and stems coating prevents the loss of moisture ensuring the resistance of the plant to drought. As with desert plants, this sends out various tillers to capture moisture during rainfall.
• Ideal Climate- Typically, sorghum crops’ ideal climate conditions take place in late spring. When planted late, lower crop yields are expected as the plant will need a minimum of 90 days to produce. Generally, planting is recommended a couple of weeks after the sowing of corn. Sorghum is tolerant to salt. Such characteristic is favorable to the plant during the concentration of salts in the soil due to low precipitation. Ideal conditions should take place for high yields as sorghum tends to grow slowly compared with other crops like corn. The growth of the sorghum plant will be cut off by fall frosts, yet      it is still possible to harvest the grain. Typically, harvest occurs in September to October.

How to Grow Sorghum

The following are some handy steps to grow sorghum.

1. Plow the Land- This is an important preparation for the seed bed. You can do the plowing in the fall or before the planting. This will provide a full stand to the sorghum. The soil must be fertilized before you plant it as sorghum can be burned easily by fertilizer. Have a soil with 6.0pH so that the sorghum will do well.
2. Plant the Seeds- Typically, sorghum seeds are planted when the soil is at a 4-inch depth between 65      degrees to 75 degrees F. After you plant the seeds, they should be covered with a regular soil (1 inch) or sandy soil (1 ½ inches). Make sure that the seeds are 6-8 inches apart and placed in rows with a distance of 3 to 3 ½ feet from each other.
3. Control Weeds- Usually, sorghum is capable of holding its own against weeds. However, you may need to use an herbicide when weeds become a problem. You can get in touch with your local county office to get specific details that can include all about sorghum.
4. Water the Sorghum- You should not be worried about watering sorghum too much because of the tolerance of the plant to flooding and drought.

Author Bio:-

Criss is a grain expert who has been focusing a study on sorghum. He has been writing blogs and articles about crop varieties stressing the significance of making excellent food choice.