How to Grow Sorghum in Australia
A warm-season fruiting crop for the home garden
Growing Sorghum rewards a little local know-how, and in the right season the plants do most of the work for you. It is rated intermediate to grow. Drought-tough grain crop for hot, dry conditions where other crops fail.
This guide covers when to plant Sorghum in your region, the position and soil it likes, how to sow and space it, day-to-day care, the pests and diseases to watch, and how to harvest and store your crop.
When to Plant in Your Region
Sorghum is a warm-season crop, frost-tender and needs a frost-free run. In subtropical South-East Queensland it is sown in October, November and December. Timing shifts with your climate, so choose your region below for a local calendar.
Varieties to Try
Sugar Drip (Sweet Sorghum)
Sweet stalks for syrup production. Also produces grain. Dual purpose.
Try: Eden Seeds, Green Harvest
Grain Sorghum
Standard grain variety. White or red seed heads. Ground into flour.
Try: Eden Seeds
Position and Soil
Give Sorghum full sun (at least 6 hours a day). It does best in free-draining soil with a pH around 5.5 to 7.5. Dig through plenty of compost before planting, and mulch to hold moisture and keep weeds down. It needs an open garden bed rather than a pot, getting too big or deep-rooted for containers.
Sowing and Spacing
Sow seed about 2 cm deep. Thin or space plants to about 15 cm apart. Seedlings usually appear in around 7 days, fastest when the soil is between 20 and 30 degrees.
Sorghum bicolor. Ancient African grain crop. Extremely drought-tolerant. Grows where corn would fail. Gluten-free grain. Sweet sorghum varieties produce syrup. Grain types produce flour. Good for hot, dry climates like Adelaide, Perth and inland Australia.
Care
Water consistently, roughly 4 L per plant every 4 days in warm weather, less in cool or wet spells. Feed every few weeks through the growing season with a balanced organic fertiliser, and keep mulch topped up.
Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for Birds and Sorghum midge. The main diseases to watch are Grain mould. Good spacing, watering at the base rather than over the leaves, and crop rotation prevent most problems. See our Pest and Disease Guide to identify and fix any issue.
Harvesting and Storage
Sorghum is typically ready to harvest in around 120 days (about 4 months). Dried grain stores for years. Syrup stores for 12+ months.
In the Kitchen
In the kitchen, sorghum is good grain ground into gluten-free flour, sweet sorghum stalks pressed for syrup, grain popped like popcorn and used in porridge and flatbreads. Nutritionally: gluten-free whole grain and high in fibre and protein.
Companion Planting
Sorghum grows well alongside Cowpea and Beans. Our Companion Planting Guide has the full pairings.
Track Your Sorghum Growing
Add sorghum to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for planting, care and harvest, tuned to your region.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Sorghum in Australia?
Sorghum is a warm-season crop. In subtropical regions like South-East Queensland it is sown in October, November and December. Timing changes with your climate, so use the calendar above for your region.
How long does Sorghum take to grow?
Sorghum is generally ready to harvest in around 120 days (about 4 months).
Can I grow Sorghum in a pot?
It is best grown in an open garden bed rather than a pot, needing more root room than a container gives.
How much sun does Sorghum need?
Give it full sun (at least 6 hours a day) for the healthiest growth and best harvest.
See also: Sorghum in the Plant Library
