Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a fast-growing, warm-season annual in the Polygonaceae family. It germinates quickly, matures in about 70 to 90 days, and can be incorporated into the soil in as little as 35 to 45 days. Because of its rapid growth and broad leaves, buckwheat is most often planted as a cover crop to suppress weeds or provide quick soil cover between rotations. Its dense canopy shades the ground, blocking light from warm-season weeds.

As a soil builder, buckwheat improves structure, breaks up surface compaction, and scavenges phosphorus and other nutrients that might otherwise be lost. It thrives even in poor or nutrient-deficient soils and decomposes rapidly after termination, returning nutrients to the soil for the next crop. It's sensitive to frost, drought, and excessive heat, so it's best planted after the danger of frost has passed. Terminate it at the first sign of flowering to prevent volunteer reseeding.

Buckwheat is widely used as a green manure, bee pasture, grain crop, and wildlife cover. The flowers appear about 35 days after planting and are highly attractive to honey bees and beneficial insects. Honey made from buckwheat nectar is dark, rich, and high in antioxidant compounds. Deer, turkey, quail, and other wildlife also find the tender shoots appealing.

Gardeners and farmers often sow buckwheat from late May through July, then till it in about a month later once flowering begins. For grain harvest, plant roughly three months before the expected fall frost. Because it grows and decomposes so quickly, it allows for multiple plantings per year and easy rotation with crops like Brassicas for fall and winter cover.