Well, it seems that no one in the surrounding area ever
plants buckwheat. I talked with one county agent and
he has he tried a small plot, but that it didn't do
very well.
So I'm wondering if it's too hot for it to grow here,
near the Mississippi River at 31 degress N. latitude.
I've grown buckwheat here in South Carolina, as feed for birds and bees.
It is a cool weather crop, so must be planted so as to bloom in the fall.
It did very well here.
It needs well-drained soil and very little nitrogen. Too much nitrogen
will make all plant and little seed.
As expected, it drew the bees during bloom ('course I had hives nearby),
and the birds when the seeds started to shuck out.
It grows quite rank, and seems a good cover crop to me. I cut it in, at
the end, for more organic matter in the soil.
I'd love some buckwheat pancakes, but I guess I'll have to buy some flour.
It requires special equipment to remove the hulls.
Canola would be a good cover crop to protect your soil from winter rains.
It also blooms very early, giving your pollinators a good feed, when
little else is available. Its blossoms are little affected by freeze or
frost. Plant in October for spring bloom.
Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green, PO Box 1200, Hemingway, SC
29554 (Dave & Jan's Pollination Service, Pot o'Gold Honey Co.)
Pollination for lay people, students, teachers
....Of bees, beekeepers, and food
http://users.aol.com/queenbjan/primbees.htm
Pollination for the pros - those involved in doing it:
Practical Pollination Home Page Dave & Janice Green
http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
Jan's Sweetness and Light Varietal Honeys and Gift Sets
http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm