Plant a Cover Crop to Improve Your Soil Health!

Today, we are planting buckwheat in our garlic bed with hopes of adding some beneficial nutrients to the soil. Our soil health is over-all pretty good but could always be better. And who doesn’t want to set up their soil for success?

Buckwheat is very quick to germinate, grow and flower, going through its entire cycle as a cover crop in about 6 weeks. This allows you to reap its benefits between crops in the same season. Buckwheat grows quickly and has a dense root system that helps to improve soil structure. Its roots can help break up compacted soil, which improves aeration and water infiltration. The residue decomposes quickly when dug into your soil and adds needed organic matter. A planting of buckwheat leaves your soil beautiful and ready to plant other crops. Its roots scavenge phosphorus, calcium, and mineralized rock phosphate making these nutrients available for your next crop. The beautiful flowers of buckwheat attract parasitic wasps, ladybugs, hoverflies and bees. All of them beneficial to your garden.

To begin, make sure that the area that you’re cover cropping has been cleared of vegetation. In my case, the garlic has been completely harvested from this bed and any weeds have been removed. Pull as much of the mulch away and save for post-planting cover. I prefer to plant in sections. Raking a thin top layer of soil to the side of the first section to be saved for covering. Rake the under layer that will become your planting area. This will essentially “rough up” the soil and allow it to accept the seeds.

Once the area to be planted has been raked, liberally broadcast the buckwheat seed throughout the area. After the seed is down, rake over a thin layer of the reserved soil to cover the seed. Proceed to the other 2 sections in the same manner until the whole area has been liberally planted and covered with a thin layer of soil.

The seeds we are using were purchased from North Circle Seeds, a local farmer that we found at the MN Garlic Fest. Link to seeds can be found here: Organic Buckwheat Cover Crop Seeds

Once the whole bed has been planted and covered with a thin layer of soil, water in well. Cover with the mulch that was reserved. This will help to retain moisture, deter the birds from snacking on your seeds and control weeds while you wait for the magic to happen!

Check every few days for germination and keep soil moist. Germination should take place in a very quick 3-5 days.

2 weeks later, we have wonderful progress! Everything has sprouted and is growing well. I literally planted the buckwheat seeds, watered them in and left for a 7-day vacation. I was a little disappointed that I missed the magic of germination while on vacation, but I was so impressed with what I found when we returned! This stuff is very forgiving and does not require a whole lot of maintenance or attention to grow. The reading I did on buckwheat indicated that most leaf production occurs during 3rd to the 6th week after seeding. I guess my seeds are overachievers 🙂

Buckwheat sets seed quickly. Unless you want to be pulling up volunteers (which are easy to pull up by the way) you want to turn under the buckwheat no more than 10 days after flowering. It sets seed very quickly and is doing so while those beautiful white flowers are blooming. If you want to leave the roots in the ground longer, cut or mow the buckwheat — but no more more than 10 days after flowering.

The Advantage of a Late Season Planting
If you plant about 5 or 6 weeks before your first frost, you won’t have to turn it in or mow it. Buckwheat is frost sensitive and will be killed. After that it can remain in those beds until spring, helping your soil and protecting it from the elements and saving your straw or other mulch for another day.

HERE’S A TIP!

Allow Time for Decomposition
Rest Period: If possible, allow the soil to rest for a week or two before planting your next crop. This gives time for the buckwheat residues to start decomposing and enrich the soil.
Subsequent Planting: Once the soil is prepared and the organic matter has been worked in, you can proceed with planting your main crops. The soil will benefit from improved fertility and structure due to the buckwheat residue.
By properly turning under buckwheat, you enhance soil fertility, structure, and health, setting a solid foundation for your next planting cycle.

Karin