How to grow Sorghum in Australia
Sow in full sun in warm, well drained soil, as it loves heat and shrugs off dry spells once established. Water moderately while young, then it tolerates drought well.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 4 litres a week, watered every 4 days
- Spacing: 15 cm
- Time to harvest: 120 days
- Time to germinate: 7 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | October to December | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | October to December | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | November and December | Shorter warm window than SEQ. Needs full summer heat. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | November and December | Marginal. Needs full summer heat. Sow Nov to Dec only. |
| Adelaide & SA | October to December | Drought-tolerant grain. Adelaide heat suits it. Spring-summer sow. |
| Perth & WA | October to December | Drought-tolerant grain ideal for Perth's dry summer. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Needs sustained heat. Tasmanian summers are too cool. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not viable. Needs sustained hot conditions. |
| North Queensland | September to December | Excellent in tropical heat. Extended sowing window. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to January | Wet season sow. Drought-tolerant grain thrives in Darwin heat. |
Varieties
- Sugar Drip (Sweet Sorghum)
- Grain Sorghum
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Grain is ready when seed heads dry and harden and kernels resist a fingernail. Cut the heads, dry fully, then thresh to free the grain.
Storage
Dried grain stores for years. Syrup stores for 12+ months.