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Foxtail millet – Setaria italica

Foxtail millet

Setaria italica
Edible value7Medicinal value3Other uses3
annual1.2×3.5 mzone 7–9full sun🍎 Edible

Will it grow where I live?

Foxtail millet is an annual and grows outdoors across Central Europe – one season from spring sowing to autumn harvest.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family
Pandaceae
Habit
annual
Height
1.2 m
Spread
3.5 m
Growth
medium
Lifespan
1 year
First yield
after 1 year
Yield per plant
up to 0.1 kg
Hardiness
zone 7–9
Shade tolerance
full sun
Soil
Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture
semi-dry – very moist
pH
5.5 – 7.5

Flowering & harvest

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Fruit harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible7 of 10
Medicinal3 of 10
Other uses3 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Foxtail millet: how big does it get?

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) grows as a annual and reaches roughly 1.2 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3.5 m. Growth is medium.

Foxtail millet: what site does it need?

Foxtail millet tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.5.

Foxtail millet: is it hardy?

Foxtail millet is listed as hardy in zone 7–9 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Foxtail millet: will it grow in Central Europe?

Foxtail millet is an annual and grows outdoors across Central Europe – one season from spring sowing to autumn harvest.

Foxtail millet: when is it harvested?

In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from September to October.

Foxtail millet: when does it start cropping, and how much?

Foxtail millet crops in its first year. Expect up to 0.1 kg per plant. Figures assume a good site; variety, soil and climate shift them considerably.

Foxtail millet: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Foxtail millet. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Foxtail millet: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 7/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 3/10.

Community experience

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