Sweet sorghum syrup has been produced in the United
States since colonial days. Some sweet sorghum syrup has at one
time or another been produced in every one of the contiguous 48
states. Sweet sorghum is grown extensively for syrup production
in the southeastern states.
TPF208 Rox Orange Sugar Cane
Not to be confused with sugar cane grass grown in Florida ( Saccharum ) for sugar production.
Rox Orange, or Waconia, is a medium-early maturing variety that was developed for syrup production by the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station. It has also been grown for silage in the Upper Midwest. Rox orange is a great variety of sorghum for making a delicious syrup.
The "sugar" refers to the sweet variety of this cane compared to types grown only for forage. Grow this old time sorghum favorite for forage or syrup, pieces of mature cane heart can be chewed like candy. Seeds can even be popped like popcorn.
Grow same culture as corn, but prefers well drained sandy loam.
Grows to 8 ft. tall and matures in about 110 days.
Can be cut for silage after 70-80 days, or be used for
livestock grain if left to full maturity. Best adapted to well
drained loam. Will mature in any area with a long enough
growing season for corn.
AW48 Topper 76-6
This is the sorghum used to make molasses for those delicious cookies and breakfast biscuits! Matures in 120 days. Will mature in any area with a long enough growing season for corn. Grows about 10 feet tall. Seed heads can be used in birdfood blends.
TPF220 Sugar Drip Sorghum
Just as the variety names says, it is sugary sweet. One of the earliest-maturing varieties for the South, and one of the most widely grown varieties in the southern mountains. Grows 6-8 feet tall, susceptible to lodging if not harvested early. Used for early production of very good quality syrup. 102 days.
TPF261 Dale
120 days. Sturdy 12 ft. stalks with excellent disease resistance, well adapted throughout the Southeast. Syrup has delicious mild flavor with good color; small, reddish-brown seed also good for grits and pancake flour, we think the pancakes made from this are absolutely the best! Missouri’s Sandhill Farm uses this variety for their fine sorghum syrup. 125 days.
AW88 Williams Sorghum
A variety made available by SSE. This heirloom syrup sorghum towers over the garden at 7-9'-tall and produces seed heads with attractive red glumes (and an occasional black glume for added interest). The grain itself is red, plump, and easy to thresh. It was donated to Seed Savers Exchange by Wayne Hayes of Annville, Kentucky, in 2015. Wayne and his family have made syrup from this sorghum cane since 1948. Each plant produces 3-6 tillers.
AW49 Black Amber Sorghum
This heirloom is one of the earliest molasses sorghums known. 6-8' stalks bear shiny black seeds and make fine brooms. A good intercrop for pole beans and peas.
One of the earliest sweet canes introduced to American agriculture. Milky sweet, used primarily as a syrup sorghum. Can also be used as a silage crop. 99 days.