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Growing Practices:

Latin Name: Fagopyrum tarticum

Days to Maturity: 80

Description:

Fagopyrum tataricum

This is a variety of tartary buckwheat from China with seeds jagged in shape and dark-colored.
The seed originally came from the Experimental Farm Network some years ago. I have been growing it since, and have nearly lost it a few times to late frosts, mixing up seeds, and a family member accidentally throwing them out.

Tartary buckwheat is a pseudo-grain, but like all grains, it has the incredible ability of a single seed to grow into a plant that can produce hundreds of seeds. If given adequate spacing of 6-12 inches, a single seed will grow into a multi-branching plant that reaches nearly 3 ft tall and is immensely productive.

I have very limited seed to share this year, and packet sizes are smaller than I usually list for seeds, at 50 seed count, but as I said above, with careful seed spacing, you can quickly scale these seeds into a productive crop in a couple of generations.

I typically sow seeds 1/4-1/2 in. deep in rows spaced 1-1.5 ft. apart in regular garden soil after the last frost. In places with longer seasons, a spring and fall crop can be sown. For a fall crop, I sow about 3 months before the average first frost.
They appreciate moderate temperatures and good moisture, but will tolerate a number of conditions.

If you have any questions about cultivating and processing tartary buckwheat, feel free to reach out.