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 fertilizer into the soil before planting will give better results.
Companions
Brussels Sprouts and Kale. 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: 3″ (10cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 3″ (10cm) with 3″ (10cm) 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 2 inches (5 cm) apart and one-half inch (1 cm) deep. Thin to 4 inches (10 cm) apart in all directions.
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.
