Here is how growing buckwheat benefits the soil

Buckwheat is an annual flowering plant that grows up to 60cm. It is a pseudocereal that is related to sorrel, knotweed and rhubarb. Growing buckwheat in your garden can benefit you in many ways.

Buckwheat is a short season that grows in 10-12 weeks. It grows best in the spring and fall seasons. It is neither frost-tolerant nor drought-tolerant. Buckwheat needs moist well-draining sandy loam soil to grow well. It germinates within 5 to 7 days.

Photo by Viktor Smoliak on Unsplash

Here is how growing buckwheat benefits the soil

1.Helps to suppress weeds

Growing buckwheat in your garden can help to prevent the growth of weeds. The roots act as natural herbicides which prevents the germination of weed seeds.

2. Good cover crop

Cover crops are grown to improve soil fertility. Buckwheat is a great cover crop because it grows fast and covers the ground quickly. Here are the different types of cover crops that can be grown to improve soil fertility.

3. Improves soil fertility

One of the main nutrients that plants need for healthy growth are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. Though phosphorus is already in the soil it is present in an unusable form. Buckwheat helps to make phosphorus more available to other plants. The roots of buckwheat help to convert unusable phosphorus into a more usable form for plants.

4. Attracts beneficial insects

Buckwheat germinates quickly and can flower within 35 to 40 days. These flowers help to attract beneficial insects like hoverflies which feed on pests. It can be used as a green manure.

5. Good green manure for soil

Buckwheat roots are small enough to be easily removed and turned into mulch. Buckwheat decomposes quickly and can be used as a green manure for your soil.