Buckwheat (bot. Fagopyrum esculentum) does not belong to the cereals, but to the so-called pseudo-cereals. Although the grain is often processed and used in a similar way to real grain, from a botanical point of view the plant belongs to the knotweed family (bot. Polygonaceae). Buckwheat owes its name on the one hand to its beechnut-shaped seeds and on the other hand to its ingredients, which are very similar to those of wheat. However, unlike wheat, buckwheat is gluten-free. This post will tell you how to sow buckwheat yourself.
Buckwheat can be sown directly in open ground
Basic instructions for sowing buckwheat
In order to get the richest possible harvest, there are several basic aspects to consider when sowing buckwheat. These relate to
- the time
- the ground,
- the sowing depth and
- the row spacing.
Sowing buckwheat - the right time
Buckwheat is extremely sensitive to frost. For this reason, you should ideally only sow it after the ice saints. The right time for sowing is mid-May to mid-June. If you want to use the buckwheat as green manure, you can sow it without any problems until the beginning of August.
The growing season is only around 14 to 18 weeks - so we advise you to sow your buckwheat in June when the soil is consistently above 15 degrees Celsius. Always remember: the annual plant dies at temperatures below five degrees Celsius!
Sowing buckwheat - the right soil
The soil must also be right for the successful cultivation of buckwheat. It should be low in nutrients, loose and rather too acidic than too basic.
Sowing buckwheat - the optimal sowing depth
The optimal sowing depth is two to three centimetres.
Sowing buckwheat - the ideal row spacing
A row spacing of about 25 centimeters is ideal. Within a row, the distance should be about 15 centimeters. With green manure you can also increase the density if necessary.
Sowing buckwheat - brief instructions
- Spread the seeds outdoors (see row spacing).
- Lightly rake in the seeds (see sowing depth).
- Keep the seeds moist at first, later you don't need to water them (nor do you fertilize or use a plant protection product).
Practical: buckwheat basically grows by itself - and extremely fast. The seeds germinate in just seven days. But: Buckwheat can naturally only develop through insect pollination. Unfortunately, the heavy bud development makes this process a bit more difficult. Not all flowers can be fertilized by bees.