Black-Seeded Sorghum

“This relative of corn has the same needs: sun, good soil, lots of water. It looks like corn, too, until it flowers, when it holds a torch of seeds above the strappy leaves. The seed heads are a powerful beacon for small birds preparing for fall migration. Plant sorghum where you’ll be able to watch the show as the birds arrive. Or harvest before the wild birds do to use as a special treat for chickens (or for people – seeds can be ground into flour).Some sorghums are grown for the sweet juice that can be pressed from their stalks, while other varieties, like this one, have been developed for their nutritious seeds. We like this black-seeded variety because it’s easy to tell when the seeds are ripe. The seeds start out tan and turn shiny black just as they ripen.” -Strong Roots Farm Tags: Harvest: Mid, Color: Black, Size: Large, Specialty: Drought Tolerant, Season: Spring Summer Fall.

Sorghum bicolor, native to Africa, specifically Sudan, is one of many sorghum species. Some are grown as cereal grain for humans, others are fodder plants for animal pasture, and the production of biofuels and alcoholic beverages. Its cultivation has been linked to ancient Sudan around 6000-7000 BP. Sorghum grains contain high levels of antioxidants. Popped sorghum is a popular snack in India and sorghum flour is combined with wheat to make noodles and bread in China. It’s the 5th most important cereal crop grown in the world. Sorghum is drought and heat tolerant, and is nitrogen efficient so can be grown in arid regions.