A crimson trefoil screening crop is majuscule to add to boost your soil and prepare for spring and summer gardening since it is a legume that append loads of nitrogen to your bottom .
Fall and winter weather can wreak havoc on garden seam . The wind can make erosion and deplete nutrients from the soil . Bacteria and fungi can still be present and grow in filth during the wintertime . If garden beds are left empty in the winter , they can become host to pests , diseases and weeds . cover charge crops aid in suppressing all of that negative activity .
All embrace crops fill garden beds to protect filth from erosion , keep healthy nutrient and bug expand and prevent grass . When planted around November , deep red clover will dormant in the winter but awaken in spring as a fertile workhorse in your garden .
How Does it Work?
trefoil cultivate as a nutrient pack rat and brings nutrients up from deep in the soil , opt sandy , loamy soil . In the spring , if there are not enough significant freezes , the trefoil can be give the axe and append back into the soil via a weed feeder . If it was a coarse wintertime , crimson clover will but winterkill . Either fashion , the screen harvest will have done its line and be easy to move around back into the soil in sentence to start planting for leap .
Where Should I Plant Crimson Clover?
concord to Sow Right Seeds , crimson trefoil can be plant in raise beds and in - ground gardens . It is a popular blanket crop in fruit and nut orchard as well as blueberry fields . When cherry clover is grown between trees and bushes , it is often referred to as a “ green ” or “ living ” mulch .
Crimson trefoil can be planted in all type of soil as long as it can drain . It wo n’t grow well in soils that stay waterlogged .
How to Grow a Crimson Clover Cover Crop
diffuse crimson trefoil seeds over the garden soil like inseminate grass source . Cover the source to a depth of ¼ to ⅕-inch deep . cherry-red clover seeded player need to be covered with enough soil to stay moist and have good grunge touch . If they are too profoundly planted , they will not be able-bodied to sprout .
Water the seeds and keep the grunge moist . carmine clover come should spud in 7 to 21 day .
Crimson trefoil can also be integrate with other covering fire harvest germ such as winter oats and hairy vetch .
How Do I Terminate My Crimson Clover Cover Crop?
As with most natural covering crop , you’re able to simply till the trefoil back into the soil in the give . The crop can arise 1 to 3 foot so if it is too marvelous to till you may cut it down and add the cuttings to your compost pile .
Give your bracing garden bed 2 to 3 calendar week to continue decomposing before planting your next crop .
Is a Crimson Clover Cover Crop a Good Fit for your Area?
Johnny ’s Seed Company excuse crimson clovergrows to 1 to 3 foundation tall and sports striking ruby blossoms in teemingness . Where winter low gear fall above -10 ° F ( -23.3 ° C ) , it is sown in late summer , lies dormant in winter , resumes outgrowth in spring , and bloom in May
The USDA also suggests , “ This plant may become underweight or invading in some regions or habitat and may displace desirable vegetation if not in good order managed . Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office , Cooperative Extension Service office , or state innate resource or agriculture department regarding its condition and use . Weed information is also available from the plant website at plants.usda.gov ”
