Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor
Origin: Gulbarga, India
Improvement status: Cultivar
Seeds per packet: ~50
Germination tested 10/2024: 95%
Life cycle: Annual
EFN INTRODUCTION. This rare landrace sorghum is from the Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) District of Karnataka State in India. It was donated to the USDA in 1991 by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Andhra Pradesh state. Also known as "alluna jola," it is a popular "jawargi" (sorghum) among farmers in that part of India due to its excellent popping ability and its short growing season. Ripe seed can be harvested in as little as 90 to 100 days (this year's crop was grown for us by our friends Dylan Bruce and Skye Harnsberger of Circadian Organics in the state of Wisconsin!). After comparing this variety against other popping sorghums we found it to be hands-down the best culinary popping sorghum around. We believe it should be better known to American growers. The grains can be used to make flour as well, or cooked whole, and they make a good "ponk" as well (green sorghum grains harvested before fully ripe). This is a dry-stalked sorghum, so it is not useful for making sorghum syrup, but the excellent grain quality is more than enough reason to grow it. The plants reach a height of 6-7 feet and begin flowering in 60 to 70 days. Its panicles (grain heads) are uniform and easy to harvest, and the seeds are readily hand threshable, making it excellent for home-scale processing. Seeds are a striking pastel orange and yellow. We introduced this variety to US growers years ago and are very happy to have it back in the catalogue again!
