Buckwheat

Fagopyrum esculentum

Buckwheat is a popular annual, summer broadleaf. It establishes quickly and is considered a "short season" crop. It flowers within 70 - 90 days. 

​

Buckwheat is often used in cover crop mixes - particularly in orchards in order to attract insects. Flowering may start within three weeks of planting and continue for up to ten weeks.

​

Benefits​

• Creates a quick, dense cover

• Suppresses weeds

• Prevents erosion

• Attracts beneficial insects

• Scavenges Phosphorus from the soil, releasing it to the following crop

• Used as a nurse crop due to its quick establishment

​

​Climatic & Soil Conditions

• Annual, warm-season grass

• Suited to varied climatic conditions

• Prefers well-drained soils

• Can tolerate acidic soils (up to a pH of 5)

• Better adapted to low-fertility soils than most other crops

• Not tolerant to flooding, extreme drought, or frost

​

Planting

• Best planted once the risk of frost has passed - usually October - January

• Seeding rate is dependant on location & objectives

​

Note: Buckwheat will regrow after mowing if cut before it reaches 25% flowering.