Sorghum

[vfem]

April, I am sure there was some in your bird feed, whether it was the chickens or the wild bird. I have so many things POP up in my yard, we later find out it came from one of the bird feeds we put out. Whether a sunflower or millet... we let it grow grow grow... and feed it back to the birds. I haven't the heart to stop the cycle of life. If the plant wasn't meant to grow, then it wouldn't have. It obviously had a reason or need to be there, and who am I to stop it.

It sure does make a GREAT conversation piece though. I think I spend a good part of my summer explaining to friends, neighbors and visitors what's happening in my yard. Like "What is that?" "Why is it growing there?" "Where did you find that?"

It sure does make for a nice afternoon walking around the garden of 'odd ball things' while watching the kids and drinking southern sweet tea. It's a southern 'thang! hahaha

 

[897tgigvib]

One year at the greenhouse, just outside it near the front corner, an amazing little sunflower grew from Roxi's wild bird feeder where she had it earlier. I named this sunflower, SMALL PLANT BIG FLOWER. It only grew less than 2 feet tall, had a main stem as fat as any sunflower 10 foot tall, and it had a huge single sunflower that would have fit on a Mammoth sunflower perfectly. It made nice large seeds too!

I did save the seeds from it! But ALAS, when I moved to California those seeds were among the box that accidentally got left behind! Along with some other things I am sorely missing, I sure wish I had those small plant big flower sunflower seeds that apparently only are available in whatever brand of wild bird seed mix Roxi was using that year! Some amazing things come from bird food mixes!

 

[JimWWhite]

You know after reading a few of the other posts on this thread I was getting confused. Some were referring to sorghum as a grain. But I've only known it as a cane we grew in the deep South to make sorghum syrup with. There a lot of instances where words that people use outside the South mean something totally different from what we use. So I 'Binged' it and found that we're all right. There are multiple varieties of sorghum: Some that are for grains like milo and some for making sorghum syrup with. What we grew when I was growing up was a cane very similar to sugar cane but different. Almost a cross between cane and corn. And what is known as milo outside the South we used to call 'Hi-Gear' or 'Hygear'. It was really called Sorghum Hegira. And you know what? It's all grass!

How about that? You learn some new every day if you keep an open mind.

Sorry, me on my soapbox again just a spouting.

 

[897tgigvib]

Jim, to add to the confusion...



some varieties of sorghum are multi purpose. I suppose though that like other multi purpose things, kinda good for both but not the best as either. I hear tell of a variety called Dale that's supposed to be pretty good as multi purpose sorghum.

 

[JimWWhite]

From what I was reading, sorghum as a grain is grown extensively in Africa because it's hardy and drought tolerant. Apparently they use it a lot like we use wheat in they grind it down to a flour and make breads, etc. from it.

 

[vfem]

From what I was reading, sorghum as a grain is grown extensively in Africa because it's hardy and drought tolerant. Apparently they use it a lot like we use wheat in they grind it down to a flour and make breads, etc. from it.

I did find a few varieties that are multipurpse as well.... I remember seeing that they were African varities as well. I like the sugar drip I am getting because its aimed mainly as a sweetner. I ever read a review saying you can break off the little shoots and use them to stir and sweeten coffee and tea!