Common buckwheat seeds - 0.5 kg

Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum sagittatum)

It is an undemanding annual plant from the knotweed family, 30-80 cm tall. It provides both nectar and pollen to bees. Buckwheat has a very short vegetation period. Under favorable conditions, it blooms within 40 days after sowing. Buckwheat is particularly sensitive to spring frosts, so sowing should be done during May. It's a quality cover crop and green manure. It is also used as feed for livestock and in the food industry.

Buckwheat, also known as hana, brank, or buchwheat, has spread throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, and both Americas. It is an annual herb with a reddish-brown hollow stem that may be finely branched. The leaves have a heart-shaped or arrow-shaped form, and the flowers are bisexual with white, pink, or red coloration. The fruit is a triangular achene of brownish-black or gray color. The seeds, known as groats after hulling, are similar to cereals in their composition and shape, and their hull is lighter than water, which facilitates processing. Buckwheat is significant for its gluten-free qualities and cleansing properties.

Common buckwheat is primarily used in nutrition for its gluten-free flour, which is used to prepare special cakes, pancakes, and other pastries. In India and other countries, it serves as an important food during fasting periods. In Japan, called Soba, its flour is used to make noodles, dumplings, and Manju bread. Young leaves are consumed as vegetables, and other parts of the plant as cattle feed. Various types of spirits including whiskey and shochu are also distilled from buckwheat.

Studies appreciate buckwheat for its rich content of rutin, which supports vascular health, and for the presence of D-chiro-inositol, being researched in the therapy of polycystic ovary syndrome. Further research focuses on buckwheat's potential effect on reducing cholesterol, body fat, and gallstones, as well as its beneficial impact on the cardiovascular system and respiratory functions.

Buckwheat seed is rich in minerals, vitamins, and has an optimal composition of fatty acids. It does not contain gluten, making it a suitable alternative for people with celiac disease. Buckwheat tea is prepared from one teaspoon of dried herbs, which are infused with 250 ml of boiling water and left to steep for 15 minutes, and can be consumed up to 3 times a day.

Buckwheat is an undemanding crop that thrives well on light, sandy-loamy soils. This plant does not require specific soil nutrients or regular agronomic care, making it popular among farmers. The main requirements are sufficient moisture and warmth during flowering and ripening. Buckwheat is sensitive to spring frosts, so sowing is recommended in May with subsequent harvest between August and September. Its short vegetation period, 10-12 weeks, makes it suitable as a cover crop.
Buckwheat cultivation is possible even on less fertile or acidic soils; proper irrigation is important. Excess artificial fertilizers, especially nitrogenous ones, can reduce buckwheat productivity. In warm climates, the plant grows more vegetatively, while cooler weather promotes flowering.

Sowing time: May
Flowering period: July - September (depends on sowing time)
Sowing depth: 2-3 cm.
Seeding rate: 60-80 kg/ha