Clover
Crimson clover adds a splash of colour to your soil
- Tags
- green manures
Both crimson and red clover are excellent green manures, thriving in low fertility soil. The are quick growing and will fix nitrogen in their roots, feeding the next crop after digging in.
| Growing calendar | |
|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | Mid Mar - Mid Apr |
| Cut down/dig in | Feb - Sep |
How to grow clover
Sow clover seed at 1-2g per square metre by scattering on the surface of your soil, raking lightly then tamping (pressing) down to get rid of any air pockets.
Clover is usually quick-growing and thrives in low-fertility soil. Cut back to stimulate new growth before it reaches 30cm tall or earlier if it's weedy.
Incorporating clover into your soil
Cut or mow clover before digging it in four weeks before the soil is needed, or overwinter after the frost has killed the leaves.
Tips on growing clover
Crimson clover will die after flowering unlike red clover. Both types offer similar benefits to your soil.
| Growing notes | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Average growing period | 8-12 weeks (crimson), 12-72 (red) |
| Equipment needed | None |
| Germination time | 5-15 days |
| Average plant size | Up to 30cm tall |
| Seed saving notes | Annual, self-pollinating |
| Latin name | Trifolium incarnatum (crimson), Trifolium pratense (red) |
| Family group (for rotation systems) | Legumes |