BACKYARD BUCKWHEAT

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Buckwheat is easy to grow-in fact, it's unequaled at growing on poor soil. . cut the stems with grass shears when about threequarters of the seeds have turned brown . . . . Threshing the seeds is fun: Just lay the stalks on a clean sheet and beat them with a broom!

Buckwheat is one of the best sources of highquality protein in the plant kingdom. It's easy to grow, harvest, and process; it prospers on soils too poor for other crops; and it's not susceptible to any major disease or pest problems. On top of all that, buckwheat is an excellent smother crop for weed control, a superb green manure crop, and a legendary nectar source for honeybees.

Yet few gardeners use it! In all the years we've planted buckwheat for bread and pancake flour, we've never heard of any other gardener raising the crop. So this article is our chance to speak up for an old friend, one that has served us faithfully . . . providing fine flavor and wholesome nutrition while asking for just a little care in return. We think buckwheat is the backyard grainyou can bring in a usable harvest from as little as 40 square feet! It well deserves a place in American gardens.

A Bit About Buckwheat

This quick-blooming crop doesn't like hot, dry weather and is produced commercially only in the northern states. Still, while high temperatures—particularly at night can reduce yields by causing flowers to "blast" (fall off without forming seed), buckwheat's long period of bloom.generally ensures at least a moderate crop even when it's planted as far south as Tennessee. At our location in south central Kentucky, we've experienced some losses in August heat, but these have been followed by excellent seed formation during cooler periods in September.

Buckwheat is also quite tolerant of acidic conditions-there's little to be gained by adding lime to the soil. What's more, soluble nitrogen fertilizer is definitely not recommended for buckwheat, because it can cause the plant to favor vegetative, rather than seed, growth. However, buckwheat does respond well to nutrients supplied by the natural breakdown of organic materials. Winter cover crops such as rye and hairy vetchplowed under as green manure-are excellent for maintaining soil fertility where buckwheat is grown.