Buckwheat is a cereal grain with a shallow root system, weak tap root, heart shaped leaves, and small clusters of flowers. It is adapted to low fertile soils, but does not do well in compacted, saturated, or coarse soils. It also does not like flooding or soil crusting. Buckwheat flowers 3-6 weeks after planting, seeds mature 10 days after flowering, and the plant completely matures 11-12 weeks after planting.

USES:

Grain:

Buckwheat is typically milled into a flour which is used for making pancakes, cereals, and noodles. You can yield 960# of grain per acre which will mill into around 550# of flour.

Green Manure/Cover Crop:

Produces 2-3 Tons of Biomass per acre. Buckwheat residue incorporated in the soil rapidly breaks down and releases nutrients for the next crop. Buckwheat roots also suppress certain soil pathogens.

Bee and Insect Garden:

Buckwheat produces abundant nectar in the late summer when not much else is blooming. A strong beehive can collect 150# of honey at a rate of about 10# per day. Buckwheat also attracts beneficial insects like Hover Flies, Parasitic Wasps, Ladybugs, and Tachnid flies.

Feed/Wildlife Habitat Plots:

Buckwheat is fed to cattle, pigs, and chickens. It is a low value feed. It is also used in mixes planted as a wildlife habitat food plot.

Planting:

Seeds Per Pound: 20,000

Spacing: Drill 40-60#/Acre on 6-8" Rows or Broadcast 70-100# per acre.

Depth: 0.5 - 1.5"

Plant Date: Anytime after threat of last frost has past. Typically planted 12 weeks prior to the first killing freeze.

pH: Can tolerate down to 5.0