Fonio
Digitaria exilis
One of Africa's oldest cereals: tiny grains, ready in eight weeks, on poor sandy soil.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 2 ft tall, 0.5 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: West African savanna
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: African savannas & tropics. Hardy in zones 9 to 12.
The story
Fonio is one of Africa's oldest cereals, grown in the West African savanna for thousands of years. The Dogon say it is the seed the world grew from. It ripens in eight weeks on poor sandy soil, and chefs are bringing it to new tables.
Planting
Full sun, light sandy soil, heat. Sow seed thinly on the surface at the start of the rains and rake in lightly.
Growing
Little care: weed early and let rain do the rest.
Harvest and use
Cut when golden, dry and thresh; the tiny grains need patient husking. Cook in minutes like couscous.
What to watch for
Tiny grains are hard to clean without a husker.
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home