Information on How to Plant Hungarian Broom Corn

Hungarian broomcorn is used to make natural-bristled brooms.

Plants commonly called broomcorn are actually varieties of the species Sorghum, a member of the grass family. Hungarian broomcorn (Sorghum bicolor Hungarian) is a fast-growing sorghum, growing 7 to 10 feet high. It requires warm soil and hot summer weather to grow and mature. It is also tolerant of drought. Hungarian broomcorn produces either red or black, edible seeds. The long, straight seedheads are widely used to make brooms. Another variety (Sorghum vulgare var. technicum), simply called broomcorn, is also used to make regular and whisk brooms.

Things You'll Need

• Rototiller or farm equipment
• Weed cultivating tools
• Sprinkler
• Commercial fertilizer or nitrogen, phosphate, potash

Instructions

1. Till the soil in the area for growing Hungarian broomcorn. Use a rototiller for small garden plots, setting the tines as deep as possible. Make two passes, the second one perpendicular to the first pass with the rototiller.

   For a large acreage, prepare the field by plowing, double-disking and harrowing prior to planting.

2. Sow seeds when all danger of frost has passed, between May 1 and June 15, depending on your location. In areas with humid summers, space the seeds 3 inches apart in rows spaced 36 to 40 inches apart. In drier climates, space the plants 6 to 9 inches apart in rows 36 to 40 inches apart.

3. Apply nitrogen at planting time at the rate of 60 to 120 lbs. per acre. Also apply 30 lbs. per acre each of phosphate and potash, or a balanced commercial fertilizer. Spread it on either side of the rows about 6 to 12 inches from the seeds.

4. Provide supplemental irrigation if rainfall is scarce. Ensure broomcorn receives 1 1/2 to 2 inches of rainfall per week, for best results.

5. Cultivate to control weeds until the broomcorn has grown large enough to shade the soil and out-compete them.

6. Harvest Hungarian broomcorn when it turns light green, approximately 100 days after sowing. The entire seedhead from base to tip should be light green before harvesting.

References

• Local Harvest: Hungarian Black Seeded Broom Corn
• Sow True Seed: Sorghum -- Hungarian Broom Corn, Organic
• Purdue University Extension; Broomcorn; P.R. Carter, et al.