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Sorghum

Sorghum bicolor
Edible value7Medicinal value3Other uses5
annual5×3 mzone 7–11full sun🍎 Edible

Will it grow where I live?

Sorghum is an annual and grows outdoors across Central Europe – one season from spring sowing to autumn harvest. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.

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
Poaceae
Habit
annual
Height
5 m
Spread
3 m
Growth
fast
Lifespan
1 year
First yield
after 1 year
Yield per plant
up to 0.1 kg
Hardiness
zone 7–11
Shade tolerance
full sun
Soil
Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture
dry – moist
pH
5.5 – 8

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 uses5 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Sorghum: how big does it get?

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grows as a annual and reaches roughly 5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3 m. Growth is fast.

Sorghum: what site does it need?

Sorghum tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range dry – moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 8.

Sorghum: is it hardy?

Sorghum is listed as hardy in zone 7–11 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Sorghum: will it grow in Central Europe?

Sorghum is an annual and grows outdoors across Central Europe – one season from spring sowing to autumn harvest. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.

Sorghum: when is it harvested?

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

Sorghum: when does it start cropping, and how much?

Sorghum 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.

Sorghum: is it poisonous?

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

Sorghum: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 7/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 5/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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