A crimson clover cover crop is great to add to boost your soil and prepare for spring and summer gardening since it is a legume that adds loads of nitrogen to your beds.
Fall and winter weather can wreak havoc on garden beds. The wind can cause erosion and deplete nutrients from the soil. Bacteria and fungi can still be present and grow in soil during the winter. If garden beds are left empty in the winter, they can become host to pests, diseases and weeds. Cover crops aid in suppressing all of that negative activity.
All cover crops fill garden beds to protect soil from erosion, keep healthy nutrients and microbes flourishing and prevent weeds. When planted around November, crimson clover will dormant in the winter but awaken in spring as a productive workhorse in your garden.
How Does it Work?
Clover works as a nutrient scavenger and brings nutrients up from deep in the soil, preferring sandy, loamy soil. In the spring, if there are not enough significant freezes, the clover can be terminated and added back into the soil via a weed eater. If it was a harsh winter, crimson clover will simply winterkill. Either way, the cover crop will have done its job and be easy to turn back into the soil in time to start planting for spring.
Where Should I Plant Crimson Clover?
According to Sow Right Seeds, crimson clover can be planted in raised beds and in-ground gardens. It is a popular cover crop in fruit and nut orchards as well as blueberry fields. When crimson clover is grown between trees and bushes, it is often referred to as a “green” or “living” mulch.
Crimson clover can be planted in all types of soil as long as it can drain. It won’t grow well in soils that stay waterlogged.
How to Grow a Crimson Clover Cover Crop
Spread crimson clover seeds over the garden soil like sowing grass seed. Cover the seeds to a depth of ¼ to ⅕-inch deep. Crimson clover seeds need to be covered with enough soil to stay moist and have good soil contact. If they are too deeply planted, they will not be able to sprout.
Water the seeds and keep the soil moist. Crimson clover seeds should germinate in 7 to 21 days.
Crimson clover can also be mixed with other cover crop seeds such as winter oats and hairy vetch.
How Do I Terminate My Crimson Clover Cover Crop?
As with most cover crops, you can simply till the clover back into the soil in the spring. The crop can grow 1 to 3 feet so if it is too tall to till you can cut it down and add the cuttings to your compost pile.
Give your fresh garden bed 2 to 3 weeks to continue decomposing before planting your next crop.
Is a Crimson Clover Cover Crop a Good Fit for your Area?
Johnny’s Seed Company explains crimson clover grows to 1 to 3 feet tall and sports striking crimson blossoms in abundance. Where winter lows fall above -10°F (-23.3°C), it is sown in late summer, lies dormant in winter, resumes growth in spring, and flowers in May
The USDA also suggests, “This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS website at plants.usda.gov”
This article about a crimson clover cover crop was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
