Using buckwheat as a summer cover crop in your garden (including a detailed timeline)

Why I use, and love, buckwheat and how I work it into the garden rotation.

[Hisloyalservantslistenlovec]

You are the first video I’ve watched that actually includes information on why we have to cut it down when it flowers. Thank you.

[Heaeven]

My favorite to use (especially for compact soil) is daikon. I interplant them between most veggies (esp. squash/tomatoes) to naturally till/aerate soil. I plant densely for ground cover. I don’t mind insects eating these guys as it keeps them away from my other veggies. They are also edible…. even the bolts! Delicious stuff.

[joannc]

Great video! I have a 1/2 acre ppty with plenty of sun & shade — and amazing weed growth in both sun and shade. I JUST planted some buckwheat about 5 days ago and intend on adding to a few more areas. I’ve also started with chickens and rabbits, so forage for these critters is another advantage of buckwheat. You did a wonderful presentation on this video, thank you! I will be planting kale in every available patch of ground!

[MegaChiliMac]

Really enjoy your videos. Very informative and you have given me a few ideas for next year. Thanks!

[Matersoup]

I love buckwheat. I cook it in chicken stock and it's one of my favorite foods.

[cheeseydish]

Thanks for your detailed timeline, really helpful. I want to grow BW for seeds as well as biomass, so I guess it would be the late summer sowing that would be best?

Great video, I'm a kale lover too 🥬

[riedler]

When you work the buckwheat back in to the soil, so you leave the flowers on as well, or remove them first?

[davidvankainen]

Buckwheat is so easy to terminate by just bending the stem or snapping it. I let the stems and above stay on top of the soil as a shading mulch, leave roots in tact to rot. It will not sprout back, unlike young winter grain covers. I'd be concerned about incorporating, encouraging early, Nitrogen-demanding decomp when your other plants may need it. Let the Kale live! That top mulch can wait for winter to dissolve a bit, or continue to hold back weeds (esp. by NOT bringing up buried weed seeds by the 'tillage').

[vincntlr]

Have u had any problems with Lygus bugs or root lesion nematodes? I read that they attract and harbor these insects. I’m scared to grow buckwheat because of that. Nice video btw!

[sbdododo]

is it true the bichwheat just need 30 days for full flowering after planting?

[joshblick]

Buckwheat grows well but it is actually poisonous to animals and humans. It's also a big cause of allergies to people.

[saraswati]

Buckwheat is more nutritous than kale!