Hi. I want to grow something tall-ish to decorate the back yard a bit, and I found seed for a variety of sorghum which will apparently grow in our climate, i.e., gaolian-voskovidnyj sorghum.

Is anyone here familiar with this and how did it work out for you? Thanks. PS. Sunflowers don't seem to grow well for me, so I thought sorghum might do well.

Coincidentally I bought seed of the same variety. Haven't arrived yet.
I understand that you have to start them indoors and plant out after danger of frost is passed.
We should compare notes as the season gets under way!

I'll be keeping an eye out for results.
Sorghum in Canada isn't impossible but it's pushing the envelope.
Is this for seed because I can't see anyone putting up a 3 cylinder mill to make syrup.
Something of which I was raised on and the reason I can't stand regular cheap store bought no flavor corn syrup.

@bower. Yes, let's compare when the time comes!

@worth 1. It's for decorative purposes, just a few. In any case, I like to push the envelope, sometimes, where gardening is concerned. Apparently this variety IS doable, inasmuch as I am buying the seed from a Manitoba seed source.


"Finally, a sorghum for people who normally can't grow sorghum! Gaolian Voskovidnyj is a day-neutral grain variety especially suited to more northern and colder climates. In fact, this is one of the fastest-ripening sorghums we've ever grown (and we've grown a lot of sorghums!) — maturing in as little as 75 days." (from https://store.experimentalfarmnetwork.o ... yj-sorghum)

"A rare Russian heirloom sorghum that is one of the earliest sorghums available! Great for short season areas or anyone who wants an earlier crop. The tall 7 ft plants have multiple seed heads per plant and are productive. 50 seeds/$3.95" (from https://heritageharvestseed.com/product ... e1e0&_ss=r) They don't ship to USA, though.

Thanks to both of you for replying.

We grow a lot of short Milo aka grain sorghum here in Texas it has several names but it's sorghum that grows really short.
I've heard people mistakingly call it millet.
Millet isn't good for consumption because it delays digestion but birds like it.
You can go down a rabbit hole looking up and reading about these grains and their history.
I did several years ago.
Millet comes from Asia and sorghum comes from Africa.

There was a neighbor that grew sweet sorghum in Oklahoma.
He cut the sorghum and ran it through a 3 cylinder mill that was turned by his mule in the front yard.
He sold that sorghum the the community around him.

I've told this story before but a family friend bought several quarts in the late 70s and took it back to Texas.
Around sometime in the 80s he gave me a couple of quarts.
The last of it was eaten here where I live now back in 2006 or 7.
It was kept in the cupboard.
I have a syrup I made from a few gallons of apple cider reduced into 2 quarts that is almost black and thick.
It's been around for a few years now.
It took over 24 hours or more I think to reduce several quarts down to around 2 quarts.
Something like that I don't remember the exact time or amount.
It's called apfelkraut but it isn't what we call Apple butter.

I bought the sorghum seed for 2 reasons @worth1 .
One is that chicken feed is crazy expensive here due to being imported. This is the kind of grain you could easily feed to birds if it can tolerate the conditions here. So more than one grain experiment has been with chickens in mind.
The second reason is that one of my friends became gluten intolerant, and she uses sorghum flour as part of a substitute. So I'm curious about the potential to grow that here.

I ordered some upland rice seed as well, which is not a likely crop for me, although this is the earliest one according to the grower. Again it's my friend who expressed interest, and I will give her some plants or some seed to try out at her new garden.

Personally I would grow wheat like crazy if I could manage the rodent situation. I just love the look of wheat plants... (and I eat them too).

@bower
Don't ever ever put a wheat stalk in your mouth with the wheat head on it.
Not even close to your mouth.
That head can get in your mouth and stick in your throat and you can choke to death.
A horrible experience.
Not everyone is running around with a wheat straw in their mouth so you never hear of it but it has happened.

I just meant that I eat wheat, not the poor ol plants.

bower wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 8:01 pm I just meant that I eat wheat, not the poor ol plants.

I was raised around the stuff and my father told stories and warned me about it.
One day a wheat head made it to my mouth and it was like pulling a fish hook out almost.
Scared the crap out of me.

Awns are pretty wicked. Amazing structure/texture.

bower wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:16 am Coincidentally I bought seed of the same variety. Haven't arrived yet.
I understand that you have to start them indoors and plant out after danger of frost is passed.
We should compare notes as the season gets under way!

Hi, bower. Would you kindly let me know where you ordered your Gaolian Sorghum seed from? Where I tried to order from, just now, you have to spend at least $20.00 before taxes, so I am looking for another source. Thanks!

BlackKrim wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 10:12 am

bower wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:16 am Coincidentally I bought seed of the same variety. Haven't arrived yet.
I understand that you have to start them indoors and plant out after danger of frost is passed.
We should compare notes as the season gets under way!

Hi, bower. Would you kindly let me know where you ordered your Gaolian Sorghum seed from? Where I tried to order from, just now, you have to spend at least $20.00 before taxes, so I am looking for another source. Thanks!

I got this one from Annapolis Seeds in Nova Scotia. Don't think they have a minimum, but I think it's a flat rate shipping which makes it worth buying a few packs at a time. Checked my receipt and it's $5 for seeds shipping.
https://annapolisseeds.com/

@Bower. Many thanks for info, so I went and ordered from them pronto, 1 pkg of Russian sorghum + 2 other things and still it came out to only $12.00 - which order they accepted. Yes, shipping is still $5.00.

Now, I have to wait for the merry month of May...

Excellent! I just got a notice from them, that my order shipped. Just started shipping feb1.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/ne ... and%20ants.

Sorghum as a nectar source for pollinators. Maybe not exactly what you’d expect.

I would expect birds to take interest in it.. maybe rodents too? They're definitely nuts about grain.

Fava beans are another crop by reputation super attractive to aphids - it hasn't been a problem here at all.
OTOH I don't see a lot of attraction for the bumblebees, which have their own favorite perennials. But something pollinates them (maybe ants!)

Grains like wheat and oats turned out to be hosts of a couple of wierd moths and multiple types of true bugs, especial the damselbug which is a pest eater. They love it on the grains and there were many of them (which I'd never met before). If not for rodents, I'd have lots of grain growing every year.