elkoholic Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 Has anyone grown buckwheat, as either a cash crop or food plot alternative? The reason for this question is that I have in my possession enough seed to plant approximately a one acre plot. I'm not sure the deer will eat it as it would be unfamiliar to them but because of it's short (approx. 10-12 weeks) germination to maturity I think it would make a good early to mid summer food source. I also think that it would make a good cover crop for the clover/chicory mix I will be planting in the plot. I will compare it to another smaller plot that will have oats as a cover. It should be a good food source for turkeys and other critters also. I will not hunt over the food plots I plant, but instead they are intended to supplement the natural food sources. Just wondering if anyone has experience with growing buckwheat or have witnessed wildlife use of buckwheat. I've included a picture of a field of buckwheat in bloom. This field is on my cousin's farm in PA (where the seeds came from) where he planted buckwheat for the first time this past summer. The deer there did not spend significant time in the buckwheat as it was something new to them and they tended to stick to the clover/alfalfa and corn fields there. Here in northwest Montana, I live miles from any agriculture and the deer tend to try anything that is green that sprouts out of the ground. They should also eat the seeds. If not, I guess I can always make pancakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 Buckwheat is in the mix we used to plant for the 4h plot project. I don't know that I ever saw deer eat the buckwheat, but would guess they would. As far as it being a good cover, I would have to look back. I have used rye grain with clover with great results, and the lespedeza in the mix we planted always did well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 Planted it many times. At our place, you gotta plant a pretty good sized patch if you want ANY of it to mature before the deer have it all eaten off. We usually put in a couple acres or more. What does happen to survive the deer and make seed heads...………..the doves and turkeys go berserk over. The honeybees love it, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 add to that Don..Partridge!! they wont leave it alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted February 5, 2019 Report Share Posted February 5, 2019 On 2/2/2019 at 7:40 PM, Mathews XT Man said: add to that Don..Partridge!! they wont leave it alone It'd be a loooooooooong walk for the nearest partridge to get to my buckwheat patch. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted February 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2019 Thanks for the info guys! It seems strange to think about planting anything right now as I just finished plowing snow and the temperature is hovering around zero. I might be ready for spring about now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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