An ancient and much revered food, brought to Europe from Asia by the Crusaders, buckwheat has always been one of the world’s most important grains. The monks found it to be an excellent medicinal plant and there are records that go back into the 14th century of its versatility in treating many ailments.
I have a continuous supply of the attractive heart- shaped leaves and sprays of tiny white succulent flowers almost all year through. Sow the seeds all year round and watch the butterflies and the bees all around it. At its full flowering stage dig it back into the soil, first slashing it, and let it break down and lie fallow for 2 months. Then, your vibrant, rebuilt soil will be ready for replanting. The importance of the green manure crop cannot be stressed enough as its high mineral content immediately breaks down the soil and returns vital nutrients to the soil.
A. CULTIVATION An easy to grow, quickly maturing annual. With full sun, well dug soil and a few barrow loads of compost it will literally come up everywhere.
B. PROPAGATION Sow the seed where they are to grow.
C. HARVESTING AND PROCESSING Pick fresh leaves and flowers all year round for salads or reap the grain when the little seeds turn dark brown.
D. COMPANION PLANTING In Europe buckwheat is used as a companion to mealies, each enhancing the other’s growth, and next to globe artichokes. It will stimulate the other plant’s growth, even in the poorest of soils and it loosens heavy clay soils, so is good for root crops. Do not plant near winter wheat — they retard each other’s growth.
E. USES OF BUCKWHEAT
i. Culinary: Flowers and leaves, cut fresh and added to salads, are the most delicious health-giving snack. As the plant matures, so the tiny dark heart-shaped grains form and while they are still young they can be used, flowers and all, in stirfries, soups and stews. Rich in minerals and vitamins, buckwheat is a health booster and tonic that will restore lost energy and vitality.
ii. Medicinal: Buckwheat has a high rutin content, which gives it a powerful effect on the circulatory system. Doctors and homeopaths often prescribe rutin tablets for certain heart ailments, poor circulation, chilblains and varicose veins. Hardening of the arteries responds particularly well to buckwheat’s rutin acid content, as do chilblains, cold feet and hands and fragile capillaries. Combined with vitamin C, buckwheat assists in the removal of haemorrhage into the retina of the eye, it lowers high blood pressure and is invaluable for convalescents. To make buckwheat tea use 1/4 cup fresh leaves and flowers in 1 cup boiling water. Stand 5 minutes. Strain and sip slowly. Sweeten with honey if liked.
iii. Cosmetic: Because of its superb effect on thread veins, buckwheat has long been used as a lotion and astringent cream. Buckwheat lotion (see recipe section) is excellent for coarse pores and as freshening tonic and spritzer for greasy tired skin. Buckwheat cream (see recipe section) is used for cleansing, nourishing and for dry skin on the hands, feet, knees and elbows.
iv. Other uses: Add slashed green flowering buckwheat to the compost heap and you’ll have a steaming friable, rich and potent heap in no time. As a foliar feed (see recipe section) buckwheat should surely be considered for its inexpensiveness, its easy availability (it can grow all year round except in June and July) and its quick cropping.
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