Buckwheat

Overview: Buckwheat is a pseudocereal meaning that while the plant is a non-grass species it's fruit can be used similarly to cereals. It is a fast-growing crop found in northern temperate areas however can just as easily be grown in southern areas. It is the fastest seed producing grain crop making it a particularly good crop for places with short growing seasons. It is naturally gluten free and can be used in the same ways as other cereal grains like oats and wheat.

General Plant Information:

• Common Name: 

• Scientific Name: 

• Planting Zone: 3-10

• Plant Type: Annual

• Pot size: directly into soil

• Days to Germinate: 4 days

• Planting Depth: 0.5-1.5 inch

• Seed Spacing: 24 inches

• Sun Requirements: Full sun

• Water Requirements: Moderate 1 inch per week

• Plant Size: 3-4 feet

• Days to Harvest: 77-84

• Harvesting Code: Green (easy difficulty)

• Growing Code: White (easy difficulty)

Planting Instructions: 

• For early spring plant after the last frost 

• For autumn plant 3 months before the first expected killing frost (the main point is to avoid high temperatures during seed formation).

• Does not need to be in finely tiled soil (however it has been said this can produce hirer yields).

• Water the seed beds before you plant the seeds.

• Avoid high use of fertilizer as this tends to make the plant grow more vegetation instead of seeds.

Growing Information: 

• The seedling begins to emerge after a few days.

• They begin to flower after about a week.

• Buckwheat blooms intermediately.

Harvesting:

• The seeds are ripe when they turn from a green to a dark brown, black.

• After the seeds ripen cut the stock low to the ground.

• Next take the stalks and place them on a sheet (white is probably best).

• Take a clean broom or stick and beat the stalks to shake loose the seeds.

• To remove excess debree from your grains pour it out slowly from one container into another in front of a fan.

Resources:

 Williams, G. A. P. (n.d.). How to grow buckwheat – mother earth news. Mother Earth News – The Original Guide To Living Wisely. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/how-to-grow-buckwheat-zmaz86mjzgoe/

Gould, K. (2021, October 19). Our guide to growing buckwheat: Plant care tips, varieties, and more. Treehugger. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.treehugger.com/buckwheat-plant-5111362#toc-how-to-plant-buckwheat

WebMD. (n.d.). Buckwheat: Overview, uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, dosing and reviews. WebMD. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-15/buckwheat#:~:text=This%20flour%20can%20be%20used%20either%20as%20food,%E2%80%9Chardening%20of%20the%20arteries%20%E2%80%9D%20%28%20atherosclerosis%20%29.

Myers, R. (n.d.). Growing buckwheat for grain or cover crop use. University of Missouri Extension. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g4163