{"product_id":"egyptian-wheat-seed","title":"Egyptian Wheat \"Shallu Sorghum\" (Sorghum bicolor) Seed – Tall 10-Foot Wildlife Cover Crop, High-Protein Seed Heads, Great for Food Plots \u0026 Erosion Control","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e 500+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA Ten-Foot Wall Wildlife Loves\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlant a strip of this along a field edge and watch it disappear into a wall of cane taller than a rider on horseback. Egyptian Wheat is a sorghum type grown almost exclusively for wildlife food plots, valued for dense, towering stands offering both cover and a protein-rich seed head deer, turkey, quail, and songbirds return to all winter. Unlike grain sorghums bred for combine harvest, Shallu grows tall and leafy on purpose, doing double duty as a windbreak and erosion barrier while it feeds everything that finds it. Land managers have relied on it for exactly that reason for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Grows Egyptian Wheat?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe food plot manager wanting a tall screening crop that feeds deer and turkey.\u003cbr\u003eThe landowner needing erosion control on a slope or disturbed field edge.\u003cbr\u003eThe upland bird hunter establishing quail cover with a food source built in.\u003cbr\u003eThe windbreak gardener wanting a fast, tall annual barrier along an exposed edge.\u003cbr\u003eThe conservation-minded grower rotating a cover crop that also supports wildlife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Tall Wildlife Cover Crop Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eSorghum bicolor\u003c\/em\u003e, known in this form as Egyptian wheat or Shallu sorghum, is a tall annual grass in the sorghum family, grown worldwide as a grain crop and, in this form, for wildlife habitat. Plants reach 8 to 10 feet at maturity, forming dense, leafy stands with broad, corn-like leaves and large, drooping seed heads packed with small, high-protein grains. Seed heads mature over a long window and often persist into winter, giving a slow-release food source when other food thins out. Its rapid, dense growth aids erosion control on bare or sloped ground, and tall stands provide screening cover and windbreak function alongside forage. Grown as a warm-season annual, not winter-hardy, replanted each year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the Field \u0026amp; Food Plot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife food plot centerpiece:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in blocks or strips alone or paired with a legume.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScreening and travel corridors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use tall stands for cover between bedding and feeding areas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eErosion control planting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sow on slopes or disturbed ground where dense roots stabilize soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWindbreak strip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant along a field edge to reduce wind exposure for crops or livestock.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDove field component:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mow or disc a portion in late summer to expose seed for dove hunting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter standing forage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leave stands unharvested through fall so seed heads feed wildlife into winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Egyptian Wheat Seed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart method:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct sow outdoors after soil warms; no transplanting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTiming:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in late spring once frost danger passes and soil is warm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sprouts in 7-10 days in warm soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Germinates best above 65°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeeding rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Broadcast or drill at a rate suited to plot size; denser stands screen better.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor ground, better than most grain crops.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought-tolerant once established; benefits from moisture at establishment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast growing, reaching full height in a single season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seed heads mature over an extended window, extending the feeding period.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Killed by frost; grown fresh from seed each year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeed suppression:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense stands naturally suppress weed competition once established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the plant that turns a bare field edge into cover, food, and erosion control in one planting. Egyptian Wheat grows to 8 or 10 feet, offering a screening wall and a slow-release grain source carrying wildlife through winter. It stabilizes soil on slopes, blocks wind along exposed edges, and asks for little beyond warm soil and full sun. Deer, turkey, quail, and songbirds all use it, standing strong after other food sources are gone. Grow the sorghum food plot managers and conservationists have planted for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"500+ Seeds","offer_id":54390577824062,"sku":"11552","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 Oz","offer_id":54390577856830,"sku":"11579","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/candles-5752.png?v=1788346153","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/egyptian-wheat-seed","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}