Agricultural technology for growing millet seeds
Millet is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the grass family. Millet is a valuable crop that is used as food in the form of cereals, as well as for animal feed.
Millet can be grown in a variety of climate zones, but it grows best in regions with warm climates.
1. Variety selection
When choosing a millet variety, you need to consider the following factors:
- Purpose of cultivation. For food consumption, varieties with larger grains are selected, and for animal feed - with smaller grains.
- Maturing period. Millet can be early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. Early-ripening varieties of millet are ready for harvesting 60-70 days after sowing, mid-ripening - after 70-80 days, late-ripening - after 80-90 days.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. When choosing a millet variety, preference should be given to varieties that are resistant to the most common diseases and pests.
2. Soil preparation
Millet is an unpretentious crop, but it prefers fertile, loose and neutral soils. In autumn, the site is dug up to a depth of 25-30 cm and organic fertilizers (manure, compost, humus) are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 m². In spring, the soil is leveled and furrows 2-3 cm deep are made.
3. Sowing seeds
Millet seeds are sown in spring, when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches +10-12 °C.
2-3 seeds are sown in each furrow at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. After germination, one of the strongest plants is left.
4. Plant care
Millet is a moisture-loving crop, so it needs to be watered regularly. Water the plants 2-3 times a week, using 10-15 liters of water per 1 m².
During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
The following fertilizers are used for fertilizing:
- Nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea) - promote the growth of leaves and stems.
- Phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, double superphosphate) - promote the development of the root system and flowering.
- Potassium fertilizers (potassium chloride, potassium magnesium) - promote fruit development.
Weeding is carried out to control weeds. To protect plants from pests and diseases, plants are sprayed with special preparations.
5. Harvest
Millet is ready for harvesting when the grains are fully ripe and acquire their characteristic color. Early-ripening varieties of millet are harvested in July, mid-ripening in August, late-ripening in September.
Millet grains are cut with scissors or a sickle. Store grains in a cool, dry place.
Some tips for growing millet
- To obtain an earlier harvest, millet can be grown as seedlings. Seeds are sown in pots or boxes in late April - early May. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has passed.
- To increase the yield of millet, it can be grown on a compost heap. The compost heap warms up faster than the soil, so seeds can be sown as early as early May.
- To protect millet from pests and diseases, it can be planted next to marigolds, calendula or nasturtium. These plants repel insect pests.
If you follow the agricultural techniques for growing millet, you can get a good harvest of this valuable crop.
Millet can be grown in a variety of climate zones, but it grows best in regions with warm climates.
1. Variety selection
When choosing a millet variety, you need to consider the following factors:
- Purpose of cultivation. For food consumption, varieties with larger grains are selected, and for animal feed - with smaller grains.
- Maturing period. Millet can be early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. Early-ripening varieties of millet are ready for harvesting 60-70 days after sowing, mid-ripening - after 70-80 days, late-ripening - after 80-90 days.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. When choosing a millet variety, preference should be given to varieties that are resistant to the most common diseases and pests.
2. Soil preparation
Millet is an unpretentious crop, but it prefers fertile, loose and neutral soils. In autumn, the site is dug up to a depth of 25-30 cm and organic fertilizers (manure, compost, humus) are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 m². In spring, the soil is leveled and furrows 2-3 cm deep are made.
3. Sowing seeds
Millet seeds are sown in spring, when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches +10-12 °C.
2-3 seeds are sown in each furrow at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. After germination, one of the strongest plants is left.
4. Plant care
Millet is a moisture-loving crop, so it needs to be watered regularly. Water the plants 2-3 times a week, using 10-15 liters of water per 1 m².
During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
The following fertilizers are used for fertilizing:
- Nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea) - promote the growth of leaves and stems.
- Phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, double superphosphate) - promote the development of the root system and flowering.
- Potassium fertilizers (potassium chloride, potassium magnesium) - promote fruit development.
Weeding is carried out to control weeds. To protect plants from pests and diseases, plants are sprayed with special preparations.
5. Harvest
Millet is ready for harvesting when the grains are fully ripe and acquire their characteristic color. Early-ripening varieties of millet are harvested in July, mid-ripening in August, late-ripening in September.
Millet grains are cut with scissors or a sickle. Store grains in a cool, dry place.
Some tips for growing millet
- To obtain an earlier harvest, millet can be grown as seedlings. Seeds are sown in pots or boxes in late April - early May. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has passed.
- To increase the yield of millet, it can be grown on a compost heap. The compost heap warms up faster than the soil, so seeds can be sown as early as early May.
- To protect millet from pests and diseases, it can be planted next to marigolds, calendula or nasturtium. These plants repel insect pests.
If you follow the agricultural techniques for growing millet, you can get a good harvest of this valuable crop.