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Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Japanese Millet
Waterfowl food plot grain—grows in standing water. Summer forage for wet fields. Duck, goose, and wildlife habitat. Echinochloa esculenta. Warm-season annual.
Growing Guides & Fertilizer Education
The waterfowl magnet. Japanese Millet produces grain seed heads that ducks, geese, and shorebirds devour, making it the most widely planted warm-season annual for wetland wildlife habitat. It thrives in wet, poorly drained conditions that kill corn and most other grain crops—growing in standing water up to 4-6 inches deep. Beyond wildlife, Japanese Millet provides high-quality warm-season forage for livestock during the summer gap when cool-season grasses are dormant, and its tolerance for wet ground makes it the go-to summer crop on poorly drained fields.
Category
Grain/Grass
Type
Japanese Millet
Scientific Name
Echinochloa esculenta
Zones
Annual in all zones (warm-season only; plant after last frost)
Brand
Wicked Tuff Turf
What Is It ?
The waterfowl magnet. Japanese Millet produces grain seed heads that ducks, geese, and shorebirds devour, making it the most widely planted warm-season annual for wetland wildlife habitat. It thrives in wet, poorly drained conditions that kill corn and most other grain crops—growing in standing water up to 4-6 inches deep. Beyond wildlife, Japanese Millet provides high-quality warm-season forage for livestock during the summer gap when cool-season grasses are dormant, and its tolerance for wet ground makes it the go-to summer crop on poorly drained fields.
How to Apply ?
Step 1
Wait for soil 60°F+; apply 40-80 lbs N
Step 2
No specific fertilizer requirement
Step 3
Spread seed (6-8 lbs/1k sq ft new; 3-4 lbs overseed)
Step 4
On wet sites: broadcast on moist/muddy surface
Step 5
Water usually not needed
Step 6
Cut at boot stage (forage) or mature (wildlife)
Best For
Waterfowl food plots and managed wetland plantings|Summer forage on wet or poorly drained fields|Warm-season livestock grazing (July-September gap)|Wildlife habitat for ducks, geese, and upland birds|Emergency forage on flood-damaged fields|Pond margin and shallow-water plantings|Poultry forage and scratch grain|Summer cover crop on wet ground
FAQs
1.
What is in the mix?
Japanese millet (Echinochloa esculenta), also called billion dollar grass, is a warm-season annual grass used for wildlife habitat, waterfowl food plots, emergency forage, and erosion control on wet sites. It produces abundant seed that is highly attractive to ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. Japanese millet is unique among forage grasses for its tolerance of wet and flooded conditions—it grows in standing water up to 4-6 inches deep, making it ideal for marsh edges, pond banks, and seasonally flooded areas.
2.
What does 85/80 Kentucky bluegrass mean in this mix?
Plant Japanese millet after last frost when soil temperatures reach 60-65°F—typically late May through July in USDA zones 4-7. Millet is a warm-season crop that will not germinate in cool soils. For waterfowl food plots, plant 60-90 days before desired seed maturity—a late May planting produces mature seed by August-September for fall waterfowl migration. Japanese millet has no cold tolerance and dies at first frost.
3.
How much clover is in the All Purpose Lawn Mix and will it be visible?
Seed Japanese millet at 20-30 lbs per acre broadcast, or 15-20 lbs per acre drilled. For small plots, use approximately 0.5-1 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Plant 0.5-1 inch deep. For waterfowl habitat, broadcasting into shallow standing water (1-3 inches) is effective—seed sinks and germinates as water levels recede. Higher seeding rates (30+ lbs/acre) produce denser stands that resist lodging (falling over) better than thin stands.
4.
Can Japanese millet grow in standing water?
Yes—Japanese millet is one of the few cultivated grasses that tolerates standing water during establishment and growth. It germinates and grows in 1-6 inches of water, making it uniquely suited for wetland edges, managed waterfowl impoundments, and seasonally flooded areas. Once established, it tolerates deeper flooding (up to 12 inches temporarily). This water tolerance makes Japanese millet the top choice for duck and goose food plots in managed wetlands.
5.
Is Japanese millet good for duck and waterfowl food plots?
The All Purpose Mix performs in 3-8+ hours of direct sunlight. Optimal performance is at 4-6 hours. In shadier spots (3-4 hours), creeping red fescue carries the stand. In full sun (8+ hours), tall fescue tends to dominate over time. For less than 3 hours of direct sun, the Sun & Shade Mix is a better choice with its 65% fine fescue content designed specifically for heavy shade. The All Purpose is best described as a moderate-shade-tolerant blend.
6.
What fertilizer program does the All Purpose Lawn Mix need?
Apply 2-3 lbs nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft annually, with the white clover component providing an additional 0.5-1 lb N through biological fixation. Fall fertilization (September-October in zones 4-6) produces the best results. A simple program: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in September, 1 lb in late October, and optionally 0.5-1 lb in late May. Avoid heavy spring nitrogen which promotes disease and weed pressure. Slow-release or organic fertilizers complement the clover's natural fertility contribution.
7
Does Japanese millet come back each year?
No. Japanese millet is a true annual that completes its lifecycle in one growing season and does not overwinter. It must be replanted each year. However, if seed heads mature and shatter before frost, volunteer millet may emerge the following spring when soil temperatures warm. For managed food plots, this self-seeding can be beneficial—allow seed to mature and drop before flooding for waterfowl to provide both current-year feed and next-year volunteers.