STRONGlk7 / CC BY-SA 3.0
garden
Buckwheat
Eriogonum ×blissianum
Overview
Despite its name, buckwheat is not a grass or cereal grain but a fast-growing relative of rhubarb and sorrel. It flowers prolifically within weeks of sowing, making it one of the best short-term cover crops and bee plants available. Buckwheat's triangular seeds are naturally gluten-free and have been a dietary staple from Russia to Japan for centuries.
Growing Conditions
Hardiness Zones6 — 8
Height158.81m
Spread1.29m
Growth HabitForb/herb
Pollinator Valuelow
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Soil pH5 — 7
Soil TypeLight, well-drained soil; thrives in poor, acidic soils
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Direct Sow | Jun — Jul | Direct sow after all frost; fastest cover crop — blooms in 30 days; frost-tender |
| Cold (1-2) | Harvest | Jul — Aug | Mow at 50% bloom; incorporate or leave as mulch; seed viable — mow before full seed set |
| Cool (3-4) | Direct Sow | May — Jul | Sow after frost; excellent smother crop for weed suppression |
| Cool (3-4) | Harvest | Jun — Aug | Terminate at bloom; decomposes rapidly; sow successive rounds |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Apr — Aug | Sow spring through summer; phosphorus accumulator; great bee plant |
| Moderate (5-7) | Harvest | May — Sep | Mow at flowering; composts in place within 2 weeks |
| Warm (8-9) | Direct Sow | Mar — Sep | Sow spring through early fall; fills gaps between main crops |
| Warm (8-9) | Harvest | Apr — Oct | Quick turnaround; excellent between spring and fall crops |
| Hot (10+) | Direct Sow | Mar — Sep | Sow in warm months; dies at first frost — easy to terminate |
| Hot (10+) | Harvest | Apr — Oct | Fast summer cover; attracts beneficial insects |
Uses
Culinary
- Ground into flour for pancakes, soba noodles, and crepes
- Groats cooked as porridge or kasha
- Sprouted for salads and grain bowls
Medicinal
- High in rutin, which strengthens capillaries and blood vessels
- Rich in magnesium and manganese
- Gluten-free protein source with all essential amino acids
Other Uses
- Premier fast-blooming cover crop for pollinators
- Phosphorus scavenger that makes nutrients available to subsequent crops
- Smothers weeds in as little as 30 days
