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Broomcorn (Sorghum vulgare var. technicum) is a type of sorghum that is used for making brooms and whiskbrooms. It differs from other sorghums in that it produces heads with fibrous seed branches that may be as much as 36 in. long.
Is broom corn edible?
Uses. The edible seeds can be sprouted, cooked, popped, or ground into flour. The straw can be made into brooms or tie untrimmed tassels into bundles to feed birds through winter. Ideal for kids, crafts and critters.
Is broom corn the same as Sorghum?
Broomcorn (Sorghum vulgare) is not actually corn, but is instead related to the sorghums used for grain and syrup (Sorghum bicolor). Broomcorn has a coarse, fibrous seed head that has been used to make various types of brooms and brushes for several hundred years.
When should I harvest broom corn?
Some farmers feel the best brush is harvested when the plant is in flower, or at most when the seed is only slightly formed. At Living History Farms, we usually harvest the plant in the middle of October when it looks like this. When the farmer feels the broom corn is ready, the plant is tabled.
How do you cut a broom corn?
When it’s time to harvest broom corn, cut stalks with a sharp knife or machete, leaving a long stem. Each stack is then hung upside down to dry or laid flat on drying racks. Drying time is approximately three weeks when stalks are hung in a warm, covered, well-ventilated space.
Will deer eat broom corn?
Sorghums are classified into four groups – grass sorghums, grain sorghums, broomcorn, and sorgos. The grain sorghums are typically planted for deer and other wildlife because of their ability to produce grain. It is this grain, produced in a seed head at the top of the stalk (seen in the photo above), that deer eat.
Is broom corn hard to grow?
Drought tolerant and seemingly thriving on neglect, broomcorn pops up all over the garden and is always a welcome sight for both the garden as well as for floral design. It’s such an easy and versatile plant to grow that even a beginner gardener could grow it with no issue.
How do you remove seeds from broom corn?
Just choose a few heads whose color or form you love, tag them, and let them sit in the field a bit longer than the rest. Then dry upside down for a couple weeks in a mouse-proof place (!) and rub vigorously on a screen or in your hands to separate the seeds from the stalks.
Why is it called a corn broom?
Dickenson, who worked as a farmer in Hadley, MA, used the tassels of sorghum (which came to be known as broomcorn) instead of straw or corn husks to make a broom for his wife. His wife thought the broom worked so well that she spread the word to her friends and neighbors.
What is a witches broom on a tree?
A witch’s broom may be a broom used by a witch in folklore (a Besom) but in its horticultural sense it is more familiar as a diseased or mutated mass of dense deformed twigs and foliage forming a birds nest-like structure in a tree or shrub. They are the source of some of our most choice and beautiful dwarf conifers.
Where do you find broom corn?
Native to Central Africa, broom corn, Sorghum vulgare, a variety of sorghum in the plant family Poaceae, is a plant with a variety of uses, both functional and ornamental. This hardy annual, also known as broom straw, is a tall grass that forms broad, tasseled, fan-shaped heads, ranging from 16 to 20 inches long.
How long does broom corn last?
Spannagel says as long as you take care of your broomcorn broom, it should last up to 15 years. Be sure to store them upside down or hang them so that that the bristles don’t bend. And always keep them dry; if the broom gets wet, let them air dry.
Can I broadcast sorghum seed?
Sorghum can be broadcast at a rate of 10 to 15 lbs./acre or drilled at a rate of 5 lbs./acre. You can also use a pull-behind row-planter designed for corn or small grains. To improve the crop, broadcast an additional 80 to 100 pounds of actual nitrogen (175 to 220 pounds of 46-0-0) per acre 6 to 8 weeks after planting.
Can you broadcast milo seed?
If broadcasting, recommended seeding rates for sorghum 10-15 pounds per acre (2-3 acres per bag). Broadcast then incorporate into soil by dragging, cultipacking or lightly disking. Rolling seed bed after planting will increase germination.
How do you grow broom grass?
Cultivation of broom grass is comparatively easy and requires only small financial inputs. It can be grown on marginal lands, wastelands and Jhum fallow. It grows well on a wide range of soils from sandy loam to clay loam. The planting can be done by seeds or rhizomes.
How do you grow broom seeds?
The seeds are best soaked in hot water for several hours before planting. They like dry, sandy, and stony soil in a sunny position. Plant them in the summer straight in the ground or in trays and plant out in final position in autumn. 50% germination in first year.
How do you grow broom straws?
Sow seeds ⅛–½ inches deep, 2 inches apart in rows 18–36 inches apart. For a continuous harvest, plant every 2 weeks until mid- June. Once plants are 4 inches tall, thin to 8–12 inches apart, depending on the intended use. A wider spacing between plants promotes thicker stalks.
