Buckwheat Growing Guide

Fagopyrum esculentum

Buckwheat

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Any sunny site with good drainage.

Position

Full sun to partial afternoon shade.

Frost tolerant

No. Buckwheat cannot tolerate cold temperatures.

Feeding

When using buckwheat to improve very poor soil, mixing a balanced organic fertiliser into the soil before planting will give better results.

Companions

Mixes well with upright flowers, and makes an attractive backdrop for herbs. A small bed of buckwheat in bloom will attract numerous beneficial insects.

Spacing

Single Plants: 10cm (3") each way (minimum)
Rows: 10cm (3") with 10cm (3") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow buckwheat from late spring to late summer, whenever a bed will be unused for more than three weeks. Broadcast seed into cultivated soil so that the seeds are about 5 cm (2in) apart and 1 cm (1/2in) deep. Thin to 10 cm (4in) apart in all directions.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Limit reseeding by pulling up or turning under buckwheat just after it blooms, but before it develops mature seeds.

Harvesting

Buckwheat can be pulled up and composted or turned under any time. It will return the most organic matter when taken down 5 to 6 weeks after seeding.

Troubleshooting

Buckwheat has few problems with pests or diseases.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Buckwheat