Crimson Clover — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Trifolium incarnatum |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 5–10 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 12.8–18.3 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 60–90 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 2.5–5.1 |
| Mature height (cm) | 30.5–91.4 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 15.2–30.5 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 5–9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Broadcast seed in late summer or early fall onto a firm, weed-free seedbed in full sun at 15–25 lbs per acre; crimson clover germinates rapidly in warm fall soil and overwinters as a low rosette, then bolts to produce spectacular, elongated, bright-crimson flower heads in spring that are exceptionally attractive to honeybees, bumble bees, and many species of native bees. Terminate by mowing or tillage in spring before or at early bloom to maximize the nitrogen credit to the following crop; the stand naturally winterkills above zone 6 and can be managed as a spring-terminated annual in zones 7–9. Fixes 75–200 lbs of atmospheric nitrogen per acre depending on stand density and termination timing, making it one of the highest nitrogen-fixing annual cover crops available. Do not allow seed set before incorporation or it will become a weedy reseeder in subsequent crops.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · trifolium-incarnatum
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0