Foxtail millet
Foxtail millet is the second most widely planted species of the smaller cereals that are known as ‘millets‘. It is an old crop which was already used in China over 7000 years ago.
Names
Scientific
Setaria italica
English
Foxtail millet
Dutch
Trosgierst
Vogelgierst
Spanish
Mijo menor
Moha
Moha de Alemania
Moha de Hungría
Moha de Italia
Moha de la China
Panizo común
French
Millet des oiseaux
Petit mil
Sétaire d’Italie
German
Italienische Borstenhirse
Kolbenhirse
Taxonomy
Genus
Setaria
Family
Poaceae
Order
Poales
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Foxtail millet probably originates from China.
Distribution:
Plant:
Foxtail millet is an annual grass, grown as a cereal. It has slim stems and can be 120 to 200 cm tall.
Flowers:
The inflorescence is a dense, hairy panicle of 10 to 30 cm long, which has the shape of a fox’s tail.
Leaves:
Grains:
Grains of foxtail millet are about 2 mm in diameter.
Climate and weather:
Foxtail millet matures early maturity and does not need much water, which makes it suitable relatively dry areas.
Pollination:
Height:
Foxtail millet can rach a height of 120 to 200 centimeters.
Moisture:
Foxtail millet doesn’t need much moisture and can be grown in dry areas.
Growth rate:
Foxtail millet when grown for hay or silage takes 65 to 70 days. When grown for the grain, harvest is after 75 to 90 days.
Spacing (close range)
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Spacing (wide range)
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Propagation:
Foxtail millet is grown from seeds.
Insect pests:
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Diseases:
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Harvesting:
When grown for the seeds the plants are harvested when seeds are ripe, after about 75 to 90 days.
Uses:
In the north of China, foxtail millet grown as a food crop in dry areas.
Foxtail millet is planted in Europe and North America for hay and silage, and sometimes for birdseed.
Did you know that?
Several small grain cereals are all known by the name “Millet” but are actually different crop species.
Crop categories
Cereals
Food crops
Staple food
Pictures
Foxtail millet
Foxtail millet
Cereals