Red clover is one of the robust wild plants that can be easily grown in the garden - whether as an ornamental plant, for harvesting animal feed or as pretty flowers for the kitchen. You can propagate red clover via roots or sow it. This is how sowing works.
How is red clover sowed?
For sowing red clover, choose a sunny to partially shaded location with nutritious, permeable and moderately moist garden soil. Between April and the end of August, do not sow the seed too densely and only cover it lightly with soil. Keep the soil moist and ensure a planting distance of 20 centimeters. Winter protection is not required.
Which location is optimal for sowing?
Red clover is undemanding and does not place any great demands on the location. This is what the optimal location looks like:
- Sunny to partially shaded
- nutritious garden soil
- not too acidic soil
- drained, moderately moist soil
If the soil in the garden is too acidic, mix in some lime. Like almost all plants, red clover cannot tolerate waterlogging.
When is the best time for sowing?
You can sow outdoors from April to the end of August. But remember that you have to water more often in summer because otherwise the seeds and later the seedlings will dry out.
Sowing red clover in a pot
Sowing in pots is not a problem if you use a pot that is as deep as possible. The plant has very long taproots. Balcony boxes are not suitable for sowing red clover.
Use simple, not too acidic garden soil. If the red clover is to be eaten later or fed to the guinea pig, make sure that you use uncontaminated soil.
How to sow
Do not sow the seeds too densely on the loosened soil. Press lightly and keep moist. Red clover is a light germinator and is not or only lightly covered with soil (€10.00 on Amazon).
Depending on the weather, it takes up to three days to a week for the seeds to germinate.
In the open field you should prick out the plants. A planting distance of 20 centimeters is ideal.
Winter protection is not necessary
Red clover is a native, perennial plant that copes very well with frost. Winter protection is not necessary.
Red clover sheds its leaves in autumn. In spring the meadow clover sprouts again.
Tip
Red clover is also very easy to propagate via the roots. Even small pieces sprout new plants. Propagation is even easier via runners, which you simply have to dig up.
