Sorghum

55 50 Ron · Jul 23, 2015

Anybody do sorghum? This photo is of a small field at Farmamerica. Hoping to do a bit of pressing of it later.

paul · Jul 23, 2015

Like here, it looks like thistle harvest is right on time....

Never tried that crop, over the years see a few old presses in the bigger neighborhood from years ago.

Paul

ShadetreeRet · Jul 23, 2015

Always wanted to, but no one locally had a "cane mill". When I bought this place back in the seventies, the old lady next door had the hardware for one in her barn and said she would give it to me. A few months later I mentioned it and she said she had given it to her son, (who immediately sold it!)

Richard G. · Jul 23, 2015

Got mine planted late but it is coming up. Hopefully get it stripped and cut before a hard freeze. I have only planted this late once before, but it did well. Have been making syrup since 1978 and I learn something new every year on ways to make it better.
Here are a couple of pics from last November.
Richard in NW SC

hd6gtom · Jul 23, 2015

I'm not trying to hijack your post but I do have a question about sorghum making. granddad had a mill in the 30's and 40's. He claimed you needed to strip the leaves off the sorghum before you pressed it. Claimed it left a sour taste if you did not. both he and dad would not use store bought sorghum. I don't know if this is true--I could not tell the difference as I never got to taste grandpas squeezins. Does anyone else know? I've always wondered. Thank You and keep up the good work-if you were closer I would love to help. Tom

Richard G. · Jul 23, 2015

I can tell no difference in the flavor with or without the leaves. I think you lose some juice if you leave them on.
I strip mine in the field because I stack it on a trailer for up to 2 weeks. With the leaves on, it will go through a heat and ruin the cane. Lost some that way one time.
Richard

GordoSD · Jul 23, 2015

Lovin on that "T" pickup.

55 50 Ron · Jul 23, 2015

I was there again this forenoon and cut the grass and thistles in front of the field and ran a walk-behind mower through between the rows. Not perfect weeding by any means but it helps.

Ron

Richard G. · Jul 23, 2015

Thanks Gordo. It earns its keep around here like everything else.
Richard

FLOLDFORD · Jul 23, 2015

Richard
Here is a picture of the Georgia Iron Works syrup kettle that belonged to my grandfather. He made many a batch of cane syrup with it on his farm in south Georgia. We brought it home after we sold the farm about 10 years ago. He also had a GIW mill but someone stole it before I could get it back to Florida. He made syrup up till the mid 70's but quit after his last mule died. I can remember riding the old mule while it turned the press.

Richard G. · Jul 23, 2015

I hope you keep that kettle in a safe place. They are getting harder and harder to find. I prefer to make mine in a pan, but people argue about that all the time.
Richard

FLOLDFORD · Jul 23, 2015

I think it's pretty safe it's sitting next door at my brothers in a fenced yard. If someone try's to steal it they better be real quiet or their going to need to crawl under it to get away from the bird shot coming from two different directions.lol

FLOLDFORD · Jul 23, 2015

Ron
Quite a few people near me make cane syrup in my part of Florida. I guess its a lot like making syrup from Sorghum. Just about everybody uses a evaporator pan but a few still use the old kettles. I always look forward to some fresh cane syrup in the winter!

Richard G. · Jul 23, 2015

Sounds like it is pretty safe.
Richard

Sorghum

55 50 Ron

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paul

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ShadetreeRet

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Richard G.

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hd6gtom

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Richard G.

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GordoSD

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55 50 Ron

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Richard G.

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FLOLDFORD

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Richard G.

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FLOLDFORD

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Richard G.

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