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Panicum miliaceum is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m by 0.2 m .
It is hardy to zone 5. It is in flower from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light , medium and heavy soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Cultivation

Requires a moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil. Tolerates heat and also drought when it is established. European millet is frequently cultivated in warm temperate and sub-tropical zones for its edible seed, there are many named varieties. Cultivation in Britain is somewhat problematic, the plants require good summers to do well and a dry period in late summer is required in order to ripen and dry the seed. We have had fairly good results on our trial grounds in Cornwall by starting the seed off early in a greenhouse, though this is a fairly labour-intensive method and therefore much less efficient than growing the more traditional temperate zone cereals. Yields are also considerably lower than other cereals that can be grown in this country, although the nutritional value of millets is said to be superior to wheat, oats, etc.

HabitatsWaste places in Britain.

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