Late summer buckwheat try

[farmhunter]

I planted about 3/4 acre plot I set aside in between a Soybean / corn / clover I tried to wait and plant it as late as I could and still get hard seed in the fall. Hopefully I got the timing right, I could be a little late if 70-90 days is right for maturity.

Planted 7/28

3/4 acre approx

50 lbs broadcast with 100 lbs of 20-20-20 fertilizer

plowed/disked - broadcast and then rolled in.

Field had been beans last several years and had compaction issues. Last year I put in Groundhog radish - and left Fallow until July.

These pictures 8/10 - so about two weeks after planting.

I'll update as summer winds down.

 

[Drycreek]

Looks like a good start.

 

[g squared 23]

Is the purpose just soil building? What will go there next? Looks good so far


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[farmhunter]

The soil in this section needed a break - I needed to rotate it out of beans or corn -and I didn't want to tie it up in clover because I have clover next to it. The buckwheat is relatively inexpensive - the turkeys really like it - and my uncle likes it so I planted it.

I'll let it go to seed -the plot should be pretty weed free come Spring and it will probably be beans again.
Next year I may rest the existing bean plot next to it - It looks good this year, but it too had some compaction issues.

3 weeks -

1.5 acres Beans next to it look good -

 

[farmhunter]

growing really fast now - 3.5 weeks - starting to flower already

Some deer tracks on the plot - but not seeing any deer browsing. That's what I remember from before too - later on - the deer seemed somewhat interested when in bloom - The deer come into the field from about where I took the picture. With a healthy soybean plot up ahead I don't expect much deer use in the buckwheat. will be interesting to see,

going to be away the next 1-1/2 weeks - might be 2 weeks before I get back up to the farm - hope I don't miss the full bloom!!

 

[Elkaddict]

I’m a fan of buckwheat for low maintenance/soil building/resting plots. Because it will die with first frost, I’d heavily overseed with winter rye or triticale late September. There will be tender growth for hunting season, and it will be the first green available next spring. You’ll get some buckwheat reseeding next spring and can terminate both in time for your bean planting.

 

[Creek chub]

For some reason, buckwheat is my favorite crop. I love seeing the bees, bugs and deer making use of the plants. I planted a small 1/3 acre plot this summer but the deer kept it mowed and it never developed.
I am working on clearing a new plot that’s hopefully large enough to seed buckwheat next spring and keep up with deer browse

 

[farmhunter]

Grows so fast - hoping I get hard seeds before frost (4 weeks out - maybe a bit more),

I had to go look it up - I last planted it in 2011. I was three weeks earlier than this try. I remember the turkeys were crazy for it in November, had 40-50 at a time there every day till it was gone - I don't remember the deer caring for it at all.

I agree CC - its cool all the bees especially - you wouldn't want to walk through it with shorts on.

a look back - 2011 plot 8/7/11

 

[farmhunter]

I’m a fan of buckwheat for low maintenance/soil building/resting plots. Because it will die with first frost, I’d heavily overseed with winter rye or triticale late September. There will be tender growth for hunting season, and it will be the first green available next spring. You’ll get some buckwheat reseeding next spring and can terminate both in time for your bean planting.

I have some Rye I plan to overseed beans with. If I don't do that maybe I'll seed it into the buckwheat in late sept. This section of soil should be good to go come next spring.

 

[farmhunter]

Here's this year's buckwheat try in full bloom. not as tall as in past years - im not sure if not enough fertilizer or if the shorter solar hours told the plant to head out rather than grow, Not bad - not as much tonnage as I remember - but looks like we could have a lot of seed come October, happy with the effort. Do not see any deer use at this point.

 

[weekender21]

That’s a great looking BW plot! Summer goals!


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[farmhunter]

Weekly buckwheat update - 9-8-19
filled in at full bloom now -

today we planted the Rye section of this same field
so this fall - this 5 acre plot will go - RYE, BEANS, BUCKWHEAT, then CLOVER.

 

[weekender21]

What are you doing to the BW plot once it reaches maturity or the frost kills it? Adding a fall crop?


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[farmhunter]

No fall crop on this plot. If all goes well, I will have buckwheat seed for the turkey and they will leave my beans alone in Nov/Dec. I don't have enough corn to keep them busy like in most years - they usually go to beans last. Usually I know the corn is gone when the turkeys are on the beans. Seems like less turkeys than past years - but we'll see.

The only corn I have here this year is mostly a corn screen on the east side of the field so that I can get in and out of that box stand in the NE corner of the field undetected.

I'm hopeful that where this buckwheat is (was radish and turnips last year) - I will have a bare field to plant in the spring - that has had some work done on the compacting issues I had. If it still seems like I have compaction issues - I may have to try a subsoiler - or try a deep till.

I'm used to dealing with a bare field with turnips and soybeans (If I sprayed 2x) come spring. I suspect this will be similar maybe with some stem residue - we'll see. I remember the time I did it before - I had a super clean weed free field come April. I'll probably follow up with Corn or Soybeans.

 

[farmhunter]

buckwheat is a fast crop no doubt. 9/15 flowers are about done - seed is in milk stage - 6 weeks after planting.

looks on track - and no frost in the forecast so far.

 

[farmhunter]

9-23 - Seeds are starting to brown out - Next weekend is the last one before deer bow season - then Turkey follows a couple weeks later. I think the 7/28 planting is going to be a success this season - but I also think a week earlier would be ideal and 2 weeks earlier would be OK - to safeguard against an early frost. Should be about 8 weeks right on from planting to hard seed. Maybe will have a couple close ups for next weekend - and then we'll see what kind of use it gets and when from the turkeys.

 

[Elkaddict]

Looks like a successful planting. Always liked buckwheat plantings...as do the bees, turkeys and deer.

 

[farmhunter]

Week 8 is here - Buckwheat maturity was as advertised - 8 weeks from planting till hard seed - no frosts to impact results.
It should start to provide the turkeys with a steady source of food for the next month or more. Will be interesting if other foods are preferred ahead of it - will be paying attention to see.

The deer never gave it any real look - definitely the deer were in the adjoining beans 1st and clover second. I wouldn't even rate the buckwheat as a viable food source with the other choices available