What is Sweet Sorghum?
Sweet Sorghum, also called “sorgo,” differs from grain sorghum in that it is grown for its stalk. Its grain yield (seed head) is low, and it is juicier and higher in sugar content. Seeing it growing in the field, you might say it looks like corn with its wide blade-shaped leaves arcing out in a whirl around the thick stalk. However, you’ll find no ears and will notice a reddish tinge to the leaves, stalk and ripe seed head. Stalks stand up to 10 feet tall. A shorter version of this same plant, with a large seed head, is grown for livestock feed and is known as Milo. The Sweet Sorghum we grow for Sorghum Syrup is from the Sorghum Bicolor race, Linn. Moench. Originally, a wild and early cultivated version of sorghum grew in flood conditions, and had many branches and heads. Sorghum came to be adapted to, and popular in, areas where it was too hot and dry to grow corn. It’s adaptation to dry conditions is due to the fact that: it is able to remain dormant during drought and then resume gr
