'Gaolian Voskovidnyj' Sorghum

Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor Origin: Former Soviet Union Improvement status: Cultivar Seeds per packet: ~50 Germination tested 10/2025: 87% Life cycle: Annual Finally, a sorghum for people who normally can't grow sorghum! Gaolian Voskovidnyj is a day-neutral grain variety especially suited to more northern and colder climates. In fact, this is one of the fastest-ripening sorghums we've ever grown (and we've grown a lot of sorghums!) — maturing in as little as 75 days.  The history of this sorghum is murky, but we will present what is known thus far. “Gaolian” in Mandarin means “sorghum,” which means it likely originated in China. However, stock seed for this variety came from the USDA (as PI 326289), which received it from the former Soviet Union's N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry in 1968. The Soviets also referred to it as “K-814” (isn't it remarkable that even at the height of the Cold War such exchanges were taking place?). Available records indicate that it was p