FINCHforum

Pulling weeds from the back yard over the weekend, I stopped and noticed this... a huge plant I have not seen before. LOOKS like Millet! anyone ever grown it? I killed the plant, but if it is millet, I wouldn't mind trying it next year LOL!

I don't know much about it, it must be a weed... I don't use any chemicals in my yard so that isn't an issue. bugs might be though..

Your birds will love those green seeds.

That looks like millet.

I may try pots of it on the lanai.

LOL that's hilarious!!!!!
I buried my tiel with lots and lots of food for her to flock to heaven I've been wondering if anything will grow..! But nothing, would be pretty cool of it did!

I might try this, was it a tall plant?

I grow it all the time. The birds love it.
Rather than dumping out partially or mostly eaten seed into the trash I pitch them into a couple of locations in the back yard. Once in a while I'll scratch the seeds into the soil. These are areas that get regular drip irrigation water to other plants in the area.
Wild birds, mostly whitewing doves, clean up much of it but what they miss sprouts and grows into millet and sometimes other sprays. I hang the sprays -leaves and all in the cages.

I cut the plants when the seeds are just going past the green stage but before they are fully ripe and they are greatly enjoyed. Once ripe the sparrows and others will rob me blind.

Sure looks like a variety of millet to me, your birds will love it!

I will definitely have to try that! Weeds seem to grow way better than grass in my yard. Bob

wellingtoncdm@cindy@chirpy@paul-inAZ@debbie276@30 Seconds to Bob"

OK great! I'm gonna give it to them tomorrow. Sadly, I didn't pay attention to it while ripping it out, at first glance I thought it was grain,

I just chuck mine out into the yard for the wild birds, and one must have ended up next to the house. very shallow roots, lots of mulch.. tried to rebury them but they are not re taking to soil..... this is cool!!!!

So, Green is ok?
I will rinse them extra well, I don't use chemical, but they were under the roof getting a lot of run off water...

(the leaves are sharp like sand paper)

yup its millet, one is turning brown as it dried out after I pulled it lol

The greens are just fine. They seem to enjoy picking at the leaves even after they have dried up.

I use one of those spring loaded metal paper clasps to hang the spray from the top of the cage or high up on one side. A clothespin would do as well I guess.

Simply laying it on the floor risks it falling through and is nowhere near as fun for the birds as something hanging. They will grasp that slender stem and pick away at the seed head or leaves. Its kind of the reverse of them feeding on a plant in the wild.

All seed will grow pretty fast! I used to flick it out on the garden, but started getting various seeding grasses! LOL

paul-inAZ@Zebrafincher I gave it to them this am ( and I use clips too to let them pick at it hanging)

They were curious, we will see if they ate it tonight when I get out of work (UGH WORK)

Growing up in cages the idea of a hanging seed spray will be foreign for a while. It may take a day for them to figure out that it is edible. They do like the unripe sprays once they sample them.

paul-inAZ I always hang their spray, I don't think they ate any today, but I will leave it in there. Can't hurt I hope they enjoy this rare treat. I will plant some next spring/summer. It is fall now and soon winter

I'd love to grow my own millet, although most of our 3 acres are covered with trees and the pond. I'm curious, how tall does millet grow?