Millet, Dragon’s Claw (Organic)
Eleusine coracana. 90 days. Finger millet.
Aptly named, Dragon’s Claw is a unique and fun millet with panicles that are shaped like a hand with up to eight fingers pointed up to the sky. Would make a neat addition to autumn bouquets. The birds in our field left this one alone, preferring pretty much every other crop, which is surprising because the seed smells delicious like malted barley. Since it is a new crop for us here, maybe the birds haven’t figured it out yet. Short for a millet, plants grow to 18”. Originated as a food crop in the Ethiopian and Ugandan highlands, although now grown all over the world. Finger Millet is especially valued in dry hot climates where it is ground into flour and made into cakes, porridge and fermented into beer. As with all millets, it is difficult to hull so is most often milled into flower. Aka, Ragi, African Finger Millet.
Direct sow to 2”- 6” centers in weed free, well prepared soil mid-May to early July, or when danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to 65°F. Millet is frost sensitive. Fertility and irrigation needs are low.
Harvest and Seed Saving
Harvest for grain or seed saving when seeds are dry and plants are no longer green. The birds will tell you when the seed is ripe. Dance, rub, or flail seeds from seedhead. Winnow to clean. Millet is primarily self-pollinating, only minimal isolation is required for seed saving.
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