Description
Alsike Clover Seeds 6680. Open Pollinated. Perennial.
1,500 seeds/gram
Smallish leaves, prolific white to pink flowers. A non-creeping plant that typically lies flat but grows to 60 cm (2’) tall when grown in with grasses. It is an ideal legume for wet, heavy soil or for acid soil. Alsike is a fast growing, hardy but short lived perennial (2-3 years) well adapted to a cool climate and right at home in wet, heavy soils or in acid soils. While used as a forage crop, it should never be used in forage or hay mixtures for horses. Alsike forms a decent cover crop and makes an excellent green manure due to its ability to fix nitrogen. A fantastic bee fodder plant as well! Sow at 13.5 kg/ha (12 lbs/acre). For smaller areas sow at 454 g/330 sq. m. (1 lb/3500 sq. ft.).
How to Grow
Good seed to soil contact is required for any successful seeding. Begin with a finely prepared seedbed that is as free of weeds/debris as possible and firm with a stiff rake or roller. Most forage species should not be sown deeper than 12 mm (1/2″) and small seeded species at 6 mm (1/4″) or less. These crops need to be watered or sown at the right time of year which is usually early April to mid-May. Late fall seeding around mid October until winter arrives (known as dormant seeding) generally ensures that no seed will germinate until spring as the soil is too cold. Spring’s warm rains and snow melt will be enough to initiate germination.
