Red Millet Seed

Red Millet Seeds

Provides warmth, shelter and feed for game birds. Extends the feeding period due to its early maturity

£38

Provides warmth, shelter and feed for game birds. Extends the feeding period due to its early maturity

  • Utilise between September - December
  • Substantial seed shed
  • Ideally sown with white millet
  • Annual crop that is susceptible to frost

As one of the oldest grains recorded to be used by mankind, red millet is a detrimental pillar of the agricultural and farming industry. In fact, red millet is so old that there is evidence of its domestication dating as far back as 8,000BCE!

For thousands of years, red millet seeds have been sown to provide a nutritious food source for birds and humans alike. The game cover crop is a warm season, cultivated grass species that provide shelter and feed for game birds and has even found its way into domestic homes feeding pet birds too.

In the UK, red millet is generally used as a game cover component that makes for a perfect bird food mixture during the colder winter months. Due to the low frost tolerance, red millet seeds need to be sown between the months of April - June and will flower later than their white millet cousin.

As a rich source of potassium, protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin B, red millet is a crucial part of the house sparrows and finches' diet. Farmers commonly sow this seed in the semi-arid areas of Africa and Asia as well as the UK. To get the highest yield of this seed, the red millet should be sown with a regular drill after the month of April as it will struggle to grow in frost soils. This crop can also be sown with white millet but it is recommended to harvest by September as the cooler temperatures could potentially kill the plant, risking the next annual crop.

Height: 0.8 – 1.2m

Sow: April - June

Rate: 12kg/ha