Common Buckwheat [Fagopyrum esculentum]

Annual buckwheat is a very old, versatile green manure, fodder, and food crop. It's fast-growing and versatile for dry soils. It enriches the soil with nitrogen, loosens, aerates deeply, and suppresses weeds. It's suitable for honey production. Ideal for direct sowing, no pot cultivation, sowing spring-summer, good for mixed cultivation, harvesting the seeds.

 Description 
Common buckwheat is a very old annual green manure, fodder, and food plant originating from Asia and Russia. This fast-growing species was cultivated on a large scale thousands of years ago and used for many purposes. As a green manure, buckwheat fixes nitrogen, loosens and aerates the soil deeply, and suppresses weeds. It also helps control pests and restores soil fertility. This robust and undemanding plant thrives on poor, sandy, and acidic soils, tolerates drought, and is crop rotation-neutral. The seeds are gluten-free and are primarily used to make flour. Due to the long flowering period, numerous pollinating insects enjoy the nectar and pollen, the quality of which is excellent for honey production.

100g is sufficient for approx. 10 m²

 General information 
Plant family: Polygonaceae
Life cycle: Annual
Days to harvest: 80 days
Plant height approx.: 100 cm
Root type: Deep rooter
Nutrient requirements: Low
Water requirements: Low
Winter hardiness: Up to 0°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable sandy loam soil

pH value: 5.5 to 7.5

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Dark germinator
Sowing depth: 1-2 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 18-20 °C
Germination time: 2-7 days
Plant and row spacing: 10x25 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 3-4 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Mustard, Clover, Phacelia
Unfavorable mixed culture: 

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing is recommended from April to October. The ideal location for the plants is sunny.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing from May to August is recommended. The ideal location for the plants is sunny.

 General recommendations 
We recommend direct sowing, followed by lightly digging the seeds into the soil. After germination, thin the plants to the specified spacing.
Common buckwheat does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
Buckwheat does not resprout after cutting. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water retention capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
Regular watering promotes more stable growth, but is not required. No fertilization is necessary.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Fagopyrum esculentum
English names: Common Buckwheat
German names: Echter Buchweizen, Gemeiner Buchweizen, Heidekorn, Heidenkorn, Knöterichweizen
Portuguese names: Trigo sarraceno
Spanish names: Alforfón
French names: Sarrasin, Blé noir

 Origin 
Country: Portugal