How to Plant Pearl Millet

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a warm season, annul grass grown and used primarily as a forage crop. The grass is native to tropical West Africa and besides its use as forage, the crop is also an ingredient in a large number of food products. Pearl millet is the most drought resistant of all the summer grains, according to the University of Florida Extension. In physical appearance, the highly nutritious, leafy plant closely resembles sorghum and corn. The plants have a mature height of 6 to 10 feet with 8- to 40-inch long and 1/2- to 3-inch wide leaf blades and 1/2- to 1-inch diameter stems.

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare a site in an area of full sun. The grain grows best in fertile, sandy soil. Make sure planting site is weed-free.
- 2
  Start sowing after the last frost and when soil has started to warm up. Recommended soil temperature is 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit for rapid germination and faster plant establishment, according to the North Dakota State University Extension.
- 3
  Use 4 lbs. of seed per acre, as recommended by the Purdue Cooperative Extension. Sow seeds at a recommended depth of 1/2 to 1 inch. You don't have to worry about the exact seed count. Excessive seeding leads to finer stems.
- 4
  Space the rows about 30 inches apart. If you are planting pearl millet in low fertility soil, increase the width between the rows, recommends the Purdue Cooperative Extension.
- 5
  Fertilize grain with 40 to 60 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. Recommended fertilizer sources include organic sources like animal manure.
- 6
  Control weeds with recommended herbicides such as 2, 4-D and products containing prosulfuron. The grain grows slowly during seedling stage and this makes weed control especially important at this stage in order to reduce competition.

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