Mennonite Sorghum is a towering heirloom grain with deep roots in Ozark agricultural tradition, passed down through generations of Mennonite communities. These dusty green plants reach 7 to 9 feet tall and mature in about 95 days, making them a striking addition to any grain garden. Still actively grown in places like Jamesport, Missouri, this variety represents a living link to how American farmers have grown grain for over a century, all while remaining practical for home-scale harvesting.
Full Sun
—
2-11
108in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
This is grain growing with real history attached. The seeds came directly to modern gardeners through Mennonite families in the early 2000s, preserving knowledge that might otherwise have been lost. At 7 to 9 feet tall, Mennonite Sorghum commands attention in the garden, its dusty green color distinctive against typical ornamental plantings. The 95-day harvest window makes it feasible even in regions with shorter growing seasons.
As a grain sorghum, Mennonite Sorghum is primarily grown for its seed heads, which can be used for whole grain products, flour milling, or animal feed. The grain can be processed into sorghum meal, syrup (a traditional Ozark product), or stored dry for long-term use.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow Mennonite Sorghum after all frost danger has passed and soil temperature reaches the warm range preferred by this warm-season grain crop. Space seeds 8 inches apart in rows oriented to receive full sun throughout the day.
Harvest Mennonite Sorghum approximately 95 days after planting. Cut the seed heads when they have fully matured and turned from green to a darker, drier state. The grain should feel hard and resist pressure from a fingernail. Hang the harvested heads in a dry location to cure completely before threshing the grain from the chaff.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Mennonite Sorghum carries the agricultural memory of Ozark communities and Mennonite farmers who have stewarded this variety for generations. In the early 2000s, the variety entered wider cultivation when Jere received seeds from his brother-in-law's parents, who had sourced them directly from active Mennonite growers. This exchange represents the way heirloom seeds move through families and communities, preserving not just the plant but the knowledge of how to grow it. Today it remains especially popular among Mennonite communities, particularly in Jamesport, Missouri, where it continues the agricultural traditions these families have maintained for decades.”