Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, buckwheat is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing buckwheat.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Buckwheat Belong To?
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) belongs to the Polygonaceae family, also known as the buckwheat family or the knotweed family.
Some of its relatives include rhubarb, dock, and Japanese knotweed.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Buckwheat?
The minimum container depth recommended for buckwheat is 2 gallons.
Alternatively, 3 buckwheat plants can be planted in a 5-gallon container.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Buckwheat?
Some of buckwheat's best companions are as follows:
- Kale, radish, and other Brassicas
- Arugula
- Squash
- Melons
- Cucumber
- Corn
- Peas
- Beans like green beans
- Sunflower
- Clover
- Chamomile
- Lettuce
- Artichoke
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Buckwheat?
Buckwheat is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with buckwheat are as follows:
What Soil Conditions Does Buckwheat Need?
Buckwheat prefers well-draining, light- to medium-weight soil with a pH of 5.0 to 7.5.
It does not grow well in soil with medium to high levels of limestone.
How Long Does Buckwheat Take to Germinate?
Buckwheat takes 3-5 days to germinate at a temperature of 45-105°F. The best germination rate occurs at around 80°F.
How Much Sun Does Buckwheat Need?
Buckwheat can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate. It does best in "morning sun, afternoon shade" conditions if it does receive shade.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and buckwheat grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Buckwheat Need?
Buckwheat needs 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Buckwheat?
Buckwheat grows fastest in temperatures of 65-75°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some buckwheat varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Does Buckwheat Get?
The average height of buckwheat is 1-4 feet.
Its height depends on the climate, variety, and in what part of the year it is planted. For regions with long warm seasons, a late-summer planting usually results in the largest plants. This is because the seeds germinate quickly in the hot summer temperatures, while autumn temperatures stay large enough for rapid growth.
Is Buckwheat Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Buckwheat is annual, meaning that it starts and ends its life in the same year.
How Does Buckwheat Reproduce?
Buckwheat reproduces by seed.
How Much Buckwheat is Produced Per Plant?
For buckwheat, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the variety and growing conditions.
Most buckwheat plants produce 1-3 cups of seeds (pseudograins) per plant per year.
Can Buckwheat Be Ingested?
Buckwheat seeds (pseudograins), shoots, stems, and leaves are edible.
Buckwheat leaves, shoots, and seeds have astringent and vasodilatory properties. They can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a buckwheat tincture.
Buckwheat can temporarily increase photosensitivity in some individuals. There are other no known safety concerns associated with ingesting buckwheat leaves, seeds, shoots, or stems.
See this article for more information about ingestibility in general. See the simple uses article linked below for examples of ways to prepare this specific plant.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of buckwheat rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for buckwheat here!
Buckwheat is featured in these Plant to Plate articles:
- Simple Uses for Buckwheat
- Gardening in Full Sun
- Gardening in Dappled Shade
- Gardening in Part Shade