Buckwheat
Fagopyrum esculentum
- Cultivated for its grain-like seeds and as a cover crop
- domesticated food plant raised in Asia.
- Buckwheat is not wheat, as it is not a grass.
Pros
- cover crop - green manure adds organic matter and valuable soil nutrients
- a fast-growing, semi-succulent plant which suppresses weeds
- attracts beneficial insects and pollinators with its flowers
- high pollen and nectar source - bees make strongly-flavoured, dark honey from buckwheat
- produces nutritious triangular seeds.
- extracts soil phosphorus from soil return it to the soil in a more useable form
- thrives in warm, moist conditions
- it is frost tender so easily killed as a cover crop or break crop
- Can be planted between rows of grapes in vineyards or orchards
Cons
- Not frost tolerant
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Be careful when feeding to stock grain can cause a skin rash or hay can
cause intestinal disturbances in livestock if consumed frequently or in large quantities