Aussie Finch Forum

I planted some in a pot as a try out. They grew quickly & easily and the finches love the seed heads. If finches eat a certain seed, do I assume it is OK for them?

Dave

Yes.
That's Jap millet.

Definitely the result of sweet corn plants

Dave

I'm sorry, but your sweet corn plants either didn't grow & Jap millet grew in its place or the corn mutated into millet between germination and growth. You won't get any corn cobs off the plants that produced these heads. That is 100% jap millet in the pics not corn heads - guaranteed.

I think you came out in front, they like millet sprays better than sweet corn.
I have grow lots of sweet corn ... and that is not it

Brett

Tiaris is right. Jap millet is pretty common in finch seed mixes, so it's likely some has blown into your garden from the aviary.

Give the Native Americans a few thousand years and I'm sure they'll be able to turn that into corn, just as they did with teosinte.

Thanks for the input, although I am confused.
At the Royal Adelaide Show, they were handing out free sweet corn "seeds" for planting in home gardens. I planted 5 in a very large pot and they all germinated. The plants are now 1.5 metres high.
I still have about 20 not yet planted.
I am happy to have the Jap Millet and am confused as to how this happened.

Now that I have 5 plants of Jap Millett, how do I save & propagate the seed? What is the best time of year to plant?
Thanks,
Dave

Seed is cheap at around $2/kg so no need to save - just use new bird seed. Grow any time during warm months. Plant shallow, feed once at about 10-20cm high & keep well watered in a sunny position. Very easy to grow (easier than corn). If you feed too much at later stage of development you get all leaf & less seed head.