When to sow foxtail millet? A detailed guide to the best sowing time
Spring millet is sown in late April, summer millet in late June - around June 25. Foxtail millet is divided into two types according to sowing time: spring millet and summer millet. The sowing period for spring millet is generally between Qingming and Guyu, and the harvest period is mid-to-late September. The sowing period for summer millet is the same as that for summer corn, that is, sowing summer millet promptly after harvesting winter wheat, with the harvest time in early-to-mid October.
Growing environment:
It likes high temperatures, with an optimum growing temperature of 22-30 degrees, and is suitable for cultivation below 1000 meters above sea level; it is a drought-tolerant, stable-yielding crop. It originated in China and is widely grown in northern China.
Distribution:
It is widely cultivated in the temperate and tropical regions of Eurasia. The middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River in China are the main cultivation area, and it is also grown in small amounts in other regions. The type specimen is from India.
Sowing methods for foxtail millet:
There are three commonly used methods: first, drill sowing with a seed drill, whose feature is that opening the furrow, dropping the seed and covering with soil can all be completed in one operation. The seed is dropped evenly, the soil cover is uniform in depth, and little soil moisture is lost. Second, plow sowing, using livestock to pull the plow to open the furrow, dropping the seeds with a special tool, and then covering with soil; its advantage is that farmyard manure can be applied at the same time as sowing. Third, machine sowing, which has the advantages of even seed drop, good moisture conservation, high efficiency and straight rows. When using drill sowing or a seeding machine, the seed must be dropped evenly, with no missed sowing and no gaps in the rows, and uniform depth; after sowing, press the soil promptly. Where spring drought is severe and soil moisture is poor, the number of pressings can be increased to improve the emergence rate.