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Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Buckwheat
Fastest cover crop—canopy closure in 3-4 weeks. Pollinator habitat, phosphorus mobilizer, weed smother. Summer cover crop. Fagopyrum esculentum.
Growing Guides & Fertilizer Education
The fastest cover crop on earth. Buckwheat goes from seed to full canopy closure in 3-4 weeks, smothering weeds before they can establish. It flowers within 30-35 days of planting, providing critical pollinator habitat during the mid-summer gap when few other plants are blooming. Buckwheat's root exudates solubilize soil phosphorus—making previously unavailable P accessible to subsequent crops. It's the ultimate short-term summer cover crop: plant it, get 30 days of weed suppression and pollinator support, mow it down, and plant your fall cover crop or next rotation.
Category
Forb
Type
Buckwheat
Scientific Name
Fagopyrum esculentum
Zones
Annual in all zones (warm-season only; plant after last frost, killed by first frost)
Brand
Wicked Tuff Turf
What Is It ?
The fastest cover crop on earth. Buckwheat goes from seed to full canopy closure in 3-4 weeks, smothering weeds before they can establish. It flowers within 30-35 days of planting, providing critical pollinator habitat during the mid-summer gap when few other plants are blooming. Buckwheat's root exudates solubilize soil phosphorus—making previously unavailable P accessible to subsequent crops. It's the ultimate short-term summer cover crop: plant it, get 30 days of weed suppression and pollinator support, mow it down, and plant your fall cover crop or next rotation.
How to Apply ?
Step 1
Wait for soil 55°F+; no nitrogen needed
Step 2
No specific fertilizer requirement
Step 3
Spread seed (6-8 lbs/1k sq ft new; 3-4 lbs overseed)
Step 4
Rake or lightly incorporate
Step 5
Water if dry
Step 6
Terminate BEFORE seed matures (70-90 days)
Best For
Quick weed suppression between crops (3-4 week canopy closure)|Mid-summer pollinator habitat and bee forage|Phosphorus mobilization on P-deficient soils|Short-term cover crop between spring and fall plantings|Garden bed transition cover (plant after spring crops, before fall)|Buckwheat honey production|Poor, acidic soils where nothing else germinates quickly|Smothering persistent weeds through rapid shading
FAQs
1.
What is Japanese millet?
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a fast-growing, warm-season broadleaf used as a cover crop, pollinator habitat, and weed suppressor. Despite its name, buckwheat is not a grass or cereal grain—it is a member of the knotweed family. Buckwheat germinates in 3-5 days and reaches full bloom in 30-45 days, making it the fastest cover crop to establish and bloom. It excels at smothering weeds, attracting beneficial insects, and making soil phosphorus available to subsequent crops.
2.
What does 85/80 Kentucky bluegrass mean in this mix?
Plant buckwheat after last frost when soil temperatures reach 55°F or higher—typically May through August in USDA zones 3-7. Buckwheat is frost-sensitive and dies at temperatures below 28-32°F. Its extremely short lifecycle (70-90 days seed to seed) allows it to be planted in narrow windows between spring and fall crops. A common rotation is: spring crop harvest → buckwheat for 6-8 weeks → terminate → plant fall cover crop or garlic.
3.
How much clover is in the All Purpose Lawn Mix and will it be visible?
Seed buckwheat at 50-70 lbs per acre broadcast, or 35-50 lbs per acre drilled. For garden plots, use approximately 1-2 lbs per 1,000 sq ft. Buckwheat seed is large relative to grasses and clovers, so higher per-acre rates are needed. Plant 0.5-1 inch deep. High seeding rates produce dense canopy closure within 2-3 weeks, which is key to buckwheat's weed-suppression effectiveness.
4.
Does buckwheat suppress weeds?
Yes—buckwheat is one of the most effective weed-suppressing cover crops for short summer windows. It germinates in 3-5 days, closes canopy in 2-3 weeks, and shades out weed seedlings before they establish. Buckwheat also exhibits mild allelopathic effects (chemical weed suppression through root exudates). It is particularly effective against summer annual weeds like pigweed, lambsquarters, and foxtail. For maximum weed suppression, seed at the high end of the rate (70 lbs/acre).
5.
Does buckwheat fix nitrogen like clover?
The All Purpose Mix performs in 3-8+ hours of direct sunlight. Optimal performance is at 4-6 hours. In shadier spots (3-4 hours), creeping red fescue carries the stand. In full sun (8+ hours), tall fescue tends to dominate over time. For less than 3 hours of direct sun, the Sun & Shade Mix is a better choice with its 65% fine fescue content designed specifically for heavy shade. The All Purpose is best described as a moderate-shade-tolerant blend.
6.
What fertilizer program does the All Purpose Lawn Mix need?
Apply 2-3 lbs nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft annually, with the white clover component providing an additional 0.5-1 lb N through biological fixation. Fall fertilization (September-October in zones 4-6) produces the best results. A simple program: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in September, 1 lb in late October, and optionally 0.5-1 lb in late May. Avoid heavy spring nitrogen which promotes disease and weed pressure. Slow-release or organic fertilizers complement the clover's natural fertility contribution.
7
How do you terminate buckwheat as a cover crop?
Terminate buckwheat by mowing, frost kill, or light tillage. Mow or incorporate before seed matures (typically 8-10 weeks after planting) to prevent volunteer buckwheat in the next crop. Buckwheat is extremely frost-sensitive—the first fall frost below 28°F kills it completely with no regrowth. In frost-free summer windows, mow at 50% bloom for maximum biomass while preventing seed set. Buckwheat decomposes rapidly (1-2 weeks) after termination, releasing nutrients quickly.