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Yellow Bonnet Sorghum with stalks and sorghum syrup on a white background.
Yellow Bonnet Sorghum seeds with canes and sorghum syrup in a bowl on a wood background.
A close-up of Yellow Bonnet Sorghum seeds on the stalk in the gardens at Baker Creek.
Stalks full of seeds and stems of Yellow Bonnet Sorghum with a bowl of syrup on a wood background.
Yellow Bonnet Sorghum growing talk in the Cabin Garden at Baker Creek.
Mature seeds on Yellow Bonnet Sorghum stalks against a deep blue sky.
Yellow Bonnet Sorghum with stalks and sorghum syrup on a white background.
Yellow Bonnet Sorghum seeds with canes and sorghum syrup in a bowl on a wood background.
A close-up of Yellow Bonnet Sorghum seeds on the stalk in the gardens at Baker Creek.
Stalks full of seeds and stems of Yellow Bonnet Sorghum with a bowl of syrup on a wood background.
Yellow Bonnet Sorghum growing talk in the Cabin Garden at Baker Creek.
Mature seeds on Yellow Bonnet Sorghum stalks against a deep blue sky.

Sorghum Seeds,
Yellow Bonnet

SKU: #SR119
Price
Regular price $3.50
Regular price $0.00 Sale price $3.50
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Min. 150 seeds

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Description

Makes sweet, delicious syrup. A very old sweet variety; 8- to 10-foot stalks are crushed for their juice, which is then boiled down in a large metal pan until it becomes sorghum syrup. It has become hard to find, but at one time it was a leading sorghum variety in the South. 

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Sorghum bicolor
Life Cycle
Annual
Sun Requirement
6–8 hr.
Days to Germinate
4–10
Days to Maturity
120
Planting Depth
¼ in.
Plant Spacing
8–12 in.
Ideal Temperature
60–90°F
Frost Hardy
No

Growing Guide

When to Grow

Yellow Bonnet is a long-season syrup cane, so give it the whole run of summer. Direct sow three to four weeks after your last frost date, or whenever soil has warmed consistently to 60 to 65 degrees F. Tuck the seeds 1/4 inch deep and one inch apart, then thin the stand to 8 to 12 inches in the row; they germinate in 4 to 10 days. The stalks need a full 120 days before they are worth crushing for juice, and sorghum demands hot summer weather, so northern growers are better served by a short-season variety.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Sow seeds directly into soil three to four weeks after the last frost date or when soil has warmed up to 60-65 degrees consistently.
  • Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, one inch apart.
  • Thin to four to six inches apart in the rows.
  • Seeds germinate in 4-10 days.

How to Grow

  • Straw mulch can be used, but sorghum grows quickly and usually shades out and out-competes weeds.
  • Sorghum is drought tolerant, but if leaves begin to curl in super dry conditions, give the plants a drink.
  • This is a care-free plant; it does not take much except heat to thrive.
  • Expect your plants to grow from 8 to 12 feet high.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Sorghum demands hot summer weather. Northern growers should look for short-season varieties.

How to Save Seeds

  • Sorghum is wind-pollinated, but it will not cross with anything except other sorghum varieties. It is wise to grow just one variety a year to avoid contamination. Caging techniques may also be employed to avoid crossing varieties.
  • Allow seeds to dry on the plants.
  • They can be handpicked or harvested by cutting off the flower heads and placing them in a bag. To release the seeds from the chaff, use a rubber mallet or step firmly on the bag to crush the heads.
  • Seeds will remain viable for up to 5 years.

FAQ

How is syrup made from Yellow Bonnet?

The 8- to 10-foot stalks are crushed for their juice, which is then boiled down in a large metal pan until it becomes sorghum syrup. It is a very old sweet variety, and at one time it was a leading sorghum variety in the South.

Can I save seed and keep this variety pure?

Sorghum is wind-pollinated but will not cross with anything except other sorghum varieties, so it is wise to grow just one variety a year, or to use caging techniques. Let the seeds dry on the plants before harvest.

How long will saved seed stay good?

Sorghum seeds will remain viable for up to 5 years.

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