Sowing alfalfa is not a usual annual job for many gardeners. But what applies to the plants we are very familiar with also applies here: the seed determines the harvest. Is there anything to watch out for with alfalfa in this regard?

Alfalfa can be sown from late March to August

The time window for sowing

Alfalfa accepts a long period of the year for its successful sowing. It is only important that she can expect a few more sunny days after sowing.

  • all days from March to August inclusive are suitable
  • early sowing makes harvests possible in the same year

late sowing is sufficient as green manure

location and soil conditions

Alfalfa prefers sunny and dry places in the garden, which is usually the case with vegetable growing areas in the garden.

As a deep-rooting plant, this lepidopteran also likes deep, loose soil. However, alfalfa also struggles through heavy, compacted soil, making it ideal for cultivation in such degraded areas.

Soil that has a strong tendency to compaction can be improved in its structure with sand or compost before cultivating alfalfa, as lucerne is also known.

seed

If you have not grown alfalfa before and have saved seeds yourself, you can buy the appropriate seeds in brick-and-mortar stores or online. When ordering, calculate with a seed strength of 2 grams per square meter.

Sow step by step

  1. Alfalfa drives its roots deep into the ground. Therefore, dig up the soil before sowing.
  2. Mix in compost to provide the alfalfa with nutrients.
  3. Do not scatter the seed in rows, but spread it out over a wide area. This prevents weeds from easily asserting themselves and also running through the bed.
  4. Then work the seed into the soil with a hoe. But beware: the seed should not be buried deeper than 1 cm, otherwise germination problems will occur.
  5. Water the entire area immediately after sowing.
  6. Cover the sowing area, otherwise some of the seeds will be pecked out of the ground by birds before they germinate.

tips

Water the new shoots later when the days are very dry. In the further course of growth, the plants can take care of themselves with their long roots.

Category:

Vegetable garden