# Buckwheat Plants
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a warm season grain from the grass family, closely related to rhubarb. A distinguishing characteristic of buckwheat is that its flavor is the strongest and its color the darkest among all the grains, cites Sara Pitzer in "Homegrown Whole Grains." Buckwheat is a native of Russia and has been cultivated in the United States since colonial times, with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson among the first farmers to use it in crop rotations.
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Growth Habit
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Broadleaf buckwheat plants have a mature height of about 3 feet with small, heart-shaped leaves and hollow stems. The irregularly shaped, brown seeds are about the size of soybeans with a fast rate of germination. The plants bloom with white flowers within three weeks of planting. Seed production occurs within 10 days of flower pollination. The seeds on the lower stem mature more rapidly. The rate of maturity of plants also depends upon planting date and growth conditions.
Planting Time
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Although planting times are flexible in the low mountain valleys and the High Plains, the usual planting time for buckwheat in the northern areas of the United States is during early summer. The plants take anywhere between 11 to 12 weeks to reach full maturity. The planting time in the southern areas is in the middle of summer where buckwheat is usually planted after spring vegetables and wheat. Plants mature earlier in the heat of summer, ready for harvest in about nine to 10 weeks.
Soil
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The plants adapt well to a range of soil types, including poor to minimally fertile. Though not a recommended practice by agronomists, the grain is often a plant of choice in land that supports the growth of little else. Growth is best in a well-drained sand loam. An acidic soil is more suitable for growth than alkaline. Buckwheat thrives in a pH as low as 5.5, more tolerant of soil acidity than a variety of other grains. The plants are also drought tolerant.
Weather
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Buckwheat plants grow optimally in regions with warm weather under full sun and bright light. The later in the season the plants are sown, the faster they produce and mature. However, planting needs to be timed so that maturity occurs prior to the first frost because this kills the plants. Also time the planting so that the flowering period does not coincide with the hottest period in summer because this heat will affect flower growth and seed production. The general rule is to plant two to three months before the average frost date in the region.
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