Is Sorghum planted with a corn planter?

From Thad

As to planting, It USED to be planted same distance apart as Corn, however seed plates are quite different.  Would need a Roller Mill and I have NOT seen one in years to Squeeze the Juice from the Canes to retain and boil down for Sorghum Molasses.  Do not know of ANYBODY near here that still does this either, maybe the Mennonites still do.

Edited by DMiller - 02 Jul 2022 at 7:53am

Will need to research the cook down part, not sure what all was involved of that or the way they caught the juice off the press.

Be ready though, IIRC this was a manpower intense operation. Engine or mules running press, field hands feeding press, other hands managing the mountain of stalks, then those busting butt to move liquids to cook tank(metal trough) and those keeping the fire kindled to a soft boil in that tank. I also have no idea how to determine consistency or ‘color’ of the cooked mix to tell when is done.

Years ago, our ‘cross the road neighbor’ mixed in the sorghum seeds in with the seed corn planter boxes, on the fields that were going to be used for corn silage that fall. He claimed that made better silage for his herd of Guernsey’s.

Lars(wi) wrote: Years ago, our ‘cross the road neighbor’ mixed in the sorghum seeds in with the seed corn planter boxes, on the fields that were going to be used for corn silage that fall. He claimed that made better silage for his herd of Guernsey’s.

Hand processing cane - the start to final 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poWPZdJas0Q

Edited by Coke-in-MN - 02 Jul 2022 at 10:17am

Back to the planting question, The seed looks like a BB but smaller.  I used a grain drill and it came up fine...

There are/were planter plates for milo/sorghum.  They are round holes in the plate big enough for the seed to fall into-one seed per hole.  I guess they are a pretty rare and hard to find item now unless there is a stash of old plates somewhere.

My uncle used to make molasses, planted with "cane plates" in a 2 row corn planter. I looked on the web for the type pan he used and found the link below. His was like the one with dividers in it like the 4th picture in the link.

The plates for the old AC planters were interchangeable with Deere plates without any modification.

One of our neighbors grows ours for our engine show the third weekend in September. Yesterday he said that it is about one foot tall. It loves hot and dry weather and not too good a ground . He stores several heads of seed in his freezer from year to year. It doesn't tolerate herbicide at all . He hoes ours and thins it to about 8 to 12 inches apart in 30 inch rows.  we strip the leaves and cut the heads off a week or two before the show. It can be stored for several weeks cut, but don't let it get rained on. Our press had been converted to run off the pto , we only cook 1 panfull a day and usually end up with 100 or so pints in two days. It is hard work but fun and productive .

Pat the Plumber CIL wrote: There was someone on this site that raised sorghum, squeezed/pressed & cooked it down. I bought a couple jars and still have one. He was from Ohio, Brian maybe? He also sold ice to his Amish neighbors. Anyone else remember him . He hasn't posted in years

I remember him as well. I also bought Sorguhm molasses from him.
Can’t remember his name.

My grand dad had a sorghum mill. If you are gonna make molasses, do not allow your sorghum to touch the ground. It will make it have a funny taste. Do not over cook your sorghum. It will taste burnt. Not something you want. It's really nasty tasting.

oh...and yes Thad it can and has been planted with a corn planter, i might have some plates here for it. you can plant that nasty/itchy/dusty, did i mention ITCHY? whew! Dad planted it one year to feed the hogs and cattle, stored it in a wooden grainery with only one door, when it came time to remove it, was when he bought his first auger! what's that tell ya? lol 

yeah....i'll thank you with a 2x4 to the.....lol  cool Sept Ark.....my A$$!