[PrettyPaisley]

It is so awesome how the buckwheat I planted between my late beans has taken off and smothered the weeds that plagued my early beans. I've been reading I need to cut it down after 40 days, which gives enough time for the beans to be established I guess.

But I don't want to chop it down if I don't have to. The flowers are loved by bees and I really want to see what it might look like and possibly try to save seed for next time. Would that be a mistake ? I understand it will be thick and tall and overshadow my bush beans but if I'm okay trampling over it to pick the beans, what's the harm ?

 

[moonwolf]

Unless you want the buckwheat to reseed itself for next year,
chop it down an turn it under before it flowers.
I once made that mistake and buckwheat came up in places I
didn't want it like a weed. It's great organic green manure
to till it in at the pre flowering stage.

 

[PrettyPaisley]

Gotcha. So when you say till you're talking about just a couple inches down, right ? Won't the weeds start popping up again after that ?

 

[moonwolf]

Gotcha. So when you say till you're talking about just a couple inches down, right ? Won't the weeds start popping up again after that ?

Growing buckwheat as a weed inhibitor is limited, but is an effective
nurse crop before flowering. Yes, I have tilled again when
small weeds pop up.... Or you can reseed more buckwheat
After chopping down the first growth, then chop again the
Second growth. This should keep down weeds: