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No matter where you live, you’ve probably seen a patch of red clover growing in an open field. This bright red, bushy flowered-plant is pretty hearty, and it can adapt to almost all weather and soil types. If you have a large area of land you’d like to spruce up, red clover is a great option that doesn’t require a ton of maintenance. Plus, red clover is great for bumble bees! [1] X Research source
Steps
Question 4 of 8:
How do you plant red clover?
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Mix your red clover seeds with grass seed. Grass seeds help prevent weeds, so you’ll get more red clover if you mix them together. Pick orchardgrass, reed canary grass, perennial ryegrass, smooth bromegrass, or tall fescue, then mix it with your red clover seeds at a 1:1 ratio. [5] X Trustworthy Source Penn State Extension Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
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Sprinkle 10 to 12 lb (4.5 to 5.4 kg) of seeds per acre. If you spread too few seeds, your red clover won’t grow. Weigh out your seeds and compare it with your space to make sure you have enough before you start planting. You can water the area after you’ve spread the seeds, but you don’t have to. [6] X Trustworthy Source Penn State Extension Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
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Question 5 of 8:
How do you care for red clover?
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Apply phosphorus-based fertilizer right after planting seeds. Depending on the size of your growing area, about 60 lb (27 kg) of fertilizer should do the trick. Sprinkle it over the area right after planting to help the clover grow well. [7] X Trustworthy Source University of Missouri Extension University of Missouri program dedicated to research-based, practical public education Go to source
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Water the clover if your area is dry or the soil dries out. Red clover doesn’t need a ton of maintenance, and usually, you can let nature take care of it for you. If your climate is going through a dry spell, you can water the clover about once a week to help it grow. [8] X Trustworthy Source Penn State Extension Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
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Question 6 of 8:
When and how do you harvest red clover?
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Harvest it 2 to 3 times per season. Do your first harvest 60 to 70 days after planting. After that, wait 30 to 35 days in between each subsequent harvest. If you don’t want to harvest your red clover, release cows or goats into the field and allow them to graze instead of harvesting. [9] X Trustworthy Source University of Missouri Extension University of Missouri program dedicated to research-based, practical public education Go to source
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Use pruners to cut the stem. Take a look at an individual clover, then find the leaf growth just beneath it. Hold your pruners at an angle and clip the stem, then collect the flowers and dry them out in the sun before using them. [10] X Trustworthy Source University of Missouri Extension University of Missouri program dedicated to research-based, practical public education Go to source
- Red clover is edible, and you can use them as a garnish or in a summer soup.
- You can expect to see seedlings at the end of the summer.
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Tips
- Red clover is sometimes portrayed as a homeopathic medicine, but there is no clear scientific evidence to back that up. [13] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.oregonclover.org/pages/redclover.html
- ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g4638
- ↑ https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_trpr2.pdf
- ↑ https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_trpr2.pdf
- ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/red-clover
- ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/red-clover
- ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g4638
- ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/red-clover
- ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g4638
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