Buckwheat

Buckwheat — variety description

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is an annual honey plant of the Polygonaceae family. Buckwheat seeds produce hardy annual, upright plants.

It grows so fast that it can reach 1 m tall in only three weeks.

It then flowers with white blooms, attracting pollinating insects and beneficial hoverflies.

Within ten days of flowering (or at any time before), it can be cut and dug in to improve the soil structure and add organic matter.

Buckwheat is a honey plant, green manure and gluten-free grain; it grows fast even on poor soils.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 87%
• Seeds per packet: 148–201 pcs (5 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: April and May; direct
• Flowering: July and August
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Buckwheat

Buckwheat seeds are sown in April and May. The plants flower in July and August. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Buckwheat

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 2–3 cm
• Spacing: thickly
• Germination: 5–7 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Buckwheat is also popular with beekeepers because it yields an abundance of flowers and a dark honey with a distinctive flavour. Buckwheat is also a great addition to any feed for birds such as turkeys, pigeons, ducks and especially quail. Sow from 2-4 weeks after the last frost date until the end of August. Frost will kill this annual plant. Sow seeds at a depth of 2-4 cm. Within ten days of flowering (or at any time before), buckwheat can be cut and turned in to improve soil structure and add organic matter.

Sow after the last frosts.

Flowering and uses

Harvest the grain when 70% of the seeds have turned brown.

Frequently asked questions

When should Buckwheat be sown?

The recommended sowing months are April and May. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 148–201 seeds, pack size 5 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 87%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.