Buckwheat

Plant family

Knotweed family (Polygonaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Plant distance

15 cm

Row spacing

25 cm

Seeding depth

0Not specified

Instructions

Description

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a member of the knotweed family (Polygonaceae). Buckwheat is a pseudocereal: it is not a member of the sweet grasses (Poaceae), but it is used in a similar way to cereals. Unlike wheat and other cereals, however, it is gluten-free and versatile. It likes light, acid soil in a sunny to semi-shady location. Buckwheat is also suitable as a green manure, as it prevents weeds from growing and prepares the soil. It has a short germination period and can therefore be sown on beds until mid-August. Raked in before the first frost, it serves as erosion control for the winter. In addition, its flowers are popular with insects.

Growing tips

Buckwheat can be sown thinly and broadly. Approx. 10 g buckwheat per square meter is sufficient. Buckwheat is sensitive to frost, so it is only sown outside from May onwards. It is sown as green manure between July and mid-August. Cultivation period: approx. 10 to 12 weeks. Should be harvested before the first frosts. Requires little care, undemanding. However, if it is cut, it will not sprout again. The seeds ripen gradually. It is usually ready for harvest at the end of August, when the lower leaves have fallen off and most of the seeds are hard.