Buckwheat Green Manure Seeds
Sow Seeds Ltd
Buckwheat is a fast growing short-term summer green manure that germinates in about 3-5 days. It produces a dense canopy of foliage that smothers & out competes weeds and once dug into the top layer of soil (15-18cm) rapidly decomposes helping to improve the soils structure & organic matter content...
Buckwheat is a fast growing short-term summer green manure that germinates in about 3-5 days. It produces a dense canopy of foliage that smothers & out competes weeds and once dug into the top layer of soil (15-18cm) rapidly decomposes helping to improve the soils structure & organic matter content so it can retain more moisture.
If left to flower buckwheat produces pretty little pink flowers that are loved by bees & beneficial insects, but as with majority of green manures it is better to dig in whilst young & green rather than old & woodier as they decompose more rapidly (maybe leave just a few to flower). It is especially important to dig in before going it goes to seed as it germinates very easily & may produce lots of unwanted volunteers. It can be topped if done early. However Buckwheat is an annual that is susceptible to frost so early spring or later autumn frosts will kill it. Keep eye out for late frosts in May.
Buckwheat is thought to produce toxic substances that inhibit the growth of other seeds particularly effective against the germination of annual broad-leaved weeds. This is known as 'Allelopathy'. This can be a problem if small vegetable seeds are sown directly after buckwheat has been dug in, like carrots or parsnips so leave a month before sowing seeds. It doesn't cause any problems for small seedling transplants. Buckwheat can be sown anywhere in crop rotations.
Buckwheat Green Manure Sowing Advice
| When to Sow: | May, June, July, August. |
| Growing period: | 2-3 months. |
| Ideal Soil Type: | Most. |
| Nitrogen fixer: | No. |
| How to Sow: | Prepare the soil by roughly digging it over and removing any weeds. Lightly tread the soil, and then sow the seeds by broadcast sowing (i.e. scattering evenly) for good coverage. Rows can be sown but are not as good for weed suppression. Rake the soil and water well. In dry periods you may need to water until the green manure is established. |
| Care: | The green manure should be cut down before flowering when the stems are nice and soft as they decompose quicker, retain more beneficial nutrients and are easier to incorporate into the soil. They can be dug into the soil by turning over into the top 15cms or left on the top as a mulch, the worms will drag down the organic matter and help to aerate the soil. |
How Much Seed Do I Need?
| Pack weight: | 100g | 250g | 500g | 1kg | |
| Area covered: | 8m2 | 20m2 | 40m2 | 80m2 |
Coverage rates quoted in the table above are based on our recommended seed coverage of 12.5g per m2.
When to Sow Buckwheat Green Manure Seeds
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General Green Manure Seed Advice & Information
Follow the links below for further Green Manure information:
→ What is Green Manure?
→ Choosing the right Green Manure
→ How to Sow Green Manure Seeds
External Links
→ Green Manure – Wikipedia
→ Green Manures – RHS Website
→ Full range of seeds also available at www.sowseeds.co.uk
All orders are usually dispatched the next working working day and are delivered either via Royal Mail 2nd Class Delivery (3-5 working day service) or 48 Hour Parcel Courier (depending on size and weight). These delivery times shown are to be used as a guide and are not guaranteed.
Please note, we are unable to deliver seeds to countries outside the UK and Ireland.
Click here to view our delivery charges.
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