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Post by bluelacedredhead on Oct 12, 2007 9:11:20 GMT -5
Ever raise it? I haven't. But Flowerpower and I talked about it a bit at the Agricultural Museum in Auburn NY. Then the other night, I saw a blurb about it in a book entitled Hundreds of Can-Do Answers to a Gardener's Toughest Questions by the Editors of OG Magazine.
It states that you can grow broomcorn if you can grow sweet corn.
Cultivation as follows:
Plant seeds 4 to 5 inches apart in rows. Harvest heads after 90 days, cutting the stalks about 3 feet from the top. Curing may be done by hanging or by laying flat. But broomcorn will mildew easily so be sure to bring it indoors at night or in damp weather.
Mature corn is red coloured, but they are apparently not as strong as green fibers. And curing outdoors will bleach the heads. So if a coloured broom is required, I would imagine that curing indoors would be the thing to do.
There area approximately 30 stalks per broom.
So how many plants do you figure would be necessary in order to make brooms for gifts or farmgate sales?
And another thing to remember, it's corn, so it will cross with other varieties of corn. Isolation distances and DTM would have to be strictly adhered to.
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Post by johno on Oct 12, 2007 10:40:02 GMT -5
I thought broom corn ws actually sorghum?
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Oct 12, 2007 11:49:11 GMT -5
Mebbe it is? Sorghum isn't grown commercially up here the way it is in the south for syrup, so I'm not familiar with it. But after searching all of the Canadian seed companies that I've dealt with over the years, it appears you just might be onto something here Johno  www.damseeds.com/asp/menu.asp?MID=275743247 |
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Post by Alan on Oct 12, 2007 22:29:37 GMT -5
Yep, sorghum is the same as broom corn, however some types of sorghum provides a better "broom" material if you will. Next year I am doing a growout of a mixed variety seed sample to evaluate for plant beauty, broom traits, as well as syrup production, I will keep everyone here informed to the best of my abilities.
In the next day or two I'll be posting a massive list of my planned 2008 growouts and crosses.
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Post by Alan on Nov 5, 2007 0:24:53 GMT -5
This may be something that is "common sense" or well known to others, I however did not know due to my inexperience growing broom corn/sorghum, so I thought I would pass it on because it could potentially be usefull information. Even though Broom Corn/sorghum is a member of the Poaceae family, it is not an outcrosser like common Zea Maize so it will not cross with your sweet, fied, or dent corn, just with itself.
-Alan
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Post by tomc on Nov 23, 2007 18:44:43 GMT -5
Broom corn IS in the sorghum family. Up hy're I plant it on average last frost date (end of May) and harvest heads about Oct 1st. So the 90ish day to harvest is about right.
Definately dry "brooms" indoors.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 6, 2008 22:54:13 GMT -5
While I was making supper tonight Paintman was looking thru a couple of seed catalogues to see if there was anything he wanted to add to my Wish List for this year. Seems he thinks Broom Corn would be a fund thing to try. Great Minds think alike right?!! Now Baker Creek offers about 5 different types. Two say specifically for syrup. But what about these other coloured types? Could a person make syrup from them as well? Wait, is that how they get those fancy coloured syrups in the pancake houses?? ;D Or should I forget about trying to make (coloured) syrups and keep to feeding the seeds to the birds and making broomsticks?  TomC, What variety do you grow, since your weather and mine are very similar? |
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Post by flowerpower on Jan 7, 2008 6:21:17 GMT -5
Blue, go look at the sandhill catalog online. They have a bunch of varieties. I am going to order from them anyway. Wanna go 1/2 and 1/2 on 2 varieties/colors?
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 8, 2008 22:37:02 GMT -5
I'll take a look. I've already sent an order to BC for one variety...
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 21, 2008 10:07:21 GMT -5
Long Island Seed Project has a mixture as well. Don't need another mix this year, but read what they have to say about it. Particularly that it can be used as ornamental, bird seed and to produce syrup. This is a Good Thing!!!
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Post by flowerpower on Jan 22, 2008 7:50:14 GMT -5
Well I see that Heirloom Seed shop is selling off 07 seed. They have the Mennonite Broom Corn on the list. It's a good cause, and they have some nice seeds left.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 22, 2008 9:30:03 GMT -5
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo gotta go read the list, thanks for the tip!
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Post by houseodessey on Jan 22, 2008 22:46:24 GMT -5
Thanks from me, too. I just got a lot more seeds to plant!
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 22, 2008 22:50:11 GMT -5
So....don't keep us in suspense. What did you order?
I didn't order anything. I'm trying to behave, lol
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Post by houseodessey on Jan 22, 2008 22:56:48 GMT -5
purple podded pole beans
scarlet runner beans
evasham brussel sprouts
cherokee popcorn
west india gherkins
thai green pea eggplant
russian red kale
jing orange okra
golden sweet pea
tall telephone pea
oregon sugar pod pea
fish pepper
white habanero
laruenthian rutabaga
giant noble spinach
orangelo
Had I known there would be another sale, I could have saved a bit of money on squashes and tomatoes, too. Oh well. I'm excited to try the orangelo, popcorn and gherkins.
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