Fagopyrum tataricum aka India Buckwheat

Fagopyrum tataricum is an annual plant known as Tartary buckwheat. Other names include Indian wheat and Siberian buckwheat. It belongs to the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. Its native range runs from Tibet into central China. Wider records include Mongolia, India, Nepal, and much of China. It also grows high in the Himalayas, from Pakistan to Bhutan. There, records reach about 14,436 feet [4,400 metres] above sea level. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This plant reaches about 2.6 feet [0.8 metres] in height. Gardeners grow it in beds for leaves and seeds. Its flowers appear from July to September. Bees and flies visit and pollinate the blooms. The flowers also feed other useful insects, including hoverflies and parasitic wasps. These insects can help control pests in nearby crops. Birds and other wildlife eat the seeds. Growers also plant the foliage in wildlife food plots.

Tartary buckwheat is easy to grow in a sunny site. It does not grow in shade. It prefers sandy ground with good drainage. Yet it also grows in loam, clay, and poor soil. It tolerates soils ranging from very acid to mildly alkaline. Both dry and moist soils suit it. A cool, moist climate suits it best, though it also grows in arid regions. It withstands cold better than common buckwheat, but yields less seed. The evidence gives no precise winter hardiness rating.

Sow seed where it will grow from mid-spring through early summer. Seeds can sprout in about five days. Early sowings provide a crop of leaves or seeds. Later sowings mainly provide leaves or material for green manure. The plant has weed potential, so its spread merits attention. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases. Its main garden roles are food production, green manure, and wildlife support.

People cook the seeds as a cereal or grind them into flour. They also sprout seeds for salads and extract edible oil. Leaves can be eaten raw in small amounts or cooked. Cooking is the preferred use for larger portions. The leaves contain rutin. PFAF records an astringent use for the bark. It also warns that the plant has caused photosensitivity in some people. Dehusked grain is reported to be safe.