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Fagopyrum esculentum ‘Takane Ruby Buckwheat’

Fagopyrum esculentum ‘Takane Ruby Buckwheat’

Pronounced fag-OH-pie-rum

Pronounced es-CUE-len-tum

Family of polygonaceae (Prounounced poll-ee-gun-AY-see-eye) (Buckwheat, Knotweed or Smartweed Family)

"Polygonum" means "many knees" and refers to the swollen nodes of the leaf stems. 

This variety of buckwheat is an heirloom and was first discovered by a Japanese professor. Most buckwheat has white flowers and this one has red or pink flowers. This Takane Ruby Buckwheat can also be grown as a nutritious micro-green. I loved the heart-shaped, bright green leaves, but was disappointed with the flowers. I mainly grew it for the flowers, so I will probably not grow it again.

Of course, I can only think of the Little Rascals character named “Buckwheat!”

Buckwheat is known as a cover crop. A cover crop is a plant used to improve soil health, and other benefits such as to slow erosion, smother weeds, and help control pests and diseases. The three main soil nutrients that plants need are phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium. I have read conflicting facts about buckwheat. First I have read that buckwheat draws nitrogen out of the soil and into the plant, so that when you take the plant and work it back into the soil, it enhances the nitrogen. I have also read that it makes phosphorous more available in the soil. I am not sure which is correct or if both are correct. Buckwheat is generally grown by farmers in a crop rotation to amend the soil.

As I have often thought, buckwheat is not similar to wheat and is not a cereal (which are in the grass family). It is in the same family as rhubarb. Their seeds are used a cereal, however, and are high in starch.

My buckwheat was not like the photograph on the pages, but it could have been because of the soil, the odd high temps and humidity, or because it was planted too late in the growing season. It did seem to grow well and even germinated fast, but it did not flower as fast as they say it should. It could be that my soil does not have enough nitrogen or phospherous in it to produce the right color flowers. However, I do consider how well my other plants grow in each of the beds I grew these buckwheat and they did not perform as well as I expected.

I decided to play with the buckwheat to take time to find joy in all little things. I do that often with the things I grow and enjoy my camera time. I decided to use the word "cover" in the flat lay because it is a cover crop, and that made me imagine other ways this plant is a cover. I thought about the phrase "cover the essentials" which actually is often used to cover the essential parts of the body with longer skirts or shorts and low-cut tops. It also covers the essential nutrients in the ground. I also thought about my garden is covered with love. My flowers themselves are essential to me and sometimes they need to be covered in water or shade.

 

 

 

 

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