A herb called meadow clover has grown to combat poor garden soil, bland foods and he alth problems. Good reasons why the herbaceous all-rounder with the pretty spherical flowers is grown in many natural gardens. The only question that arises is where and how to plant meadow clover in your own hobby garden? Read an informative profile about meadow clover here. Comprehensible instructions explain how to properly plant and care for red clover.
What is meadow clover and how is it grown?
Meadow clover, also known as red clover, is a perennial, herbaceous plant that grows 15 to 80 cm high and has spherical inflorescences in red, white or yellow. It is ideal for green manure, bee pasture and as a culinary herb or medicinal plant. To grow, seeds can be sown in beds or cultivated in pots.
Profile
- Scientific name: Trifolium pratense
- Family: Lepidoptera
- Growth type: herbaceous perennial
- Occurrence: fat meadows
- Growth height: 15 to 80 cm
- Flowering period: April to October
- Flower shape: spherical to ovoid
- Flower color: red or white
- Fruit: legume
- Roots: Rhizome with draft roots
- Toxicity: non-toxic, edible
- Use: green manure, culinary herb, medicinal plant
Flowering time
The flowering period of meadow clover extends from spring to late autumn. The distinctive inflorescences from fat meadows and on the side of the path modestly greet passers-by as they pass by. The following characteristics characterize the flower of Trifolium:
- Inflorescence: many-flowered, spherical, spike-upright
- Size: 1 to 2 cm long
- Diameter: 2 to 3 cm
- Color: red, rarely white, pink or yellow
- Flower ecology: nectar-rich butterfly flower with folding mechanism (explicitly for long-pronged insects)
- Special feature: edible
The flowering period of meadow clover is a celebration for bumblebees and butterflies. With their long trunks, the pollinators can snack on the nectar, which is a reward at the bottom of a 10 mm long tube.
Excursus
Meadow clover relieves menopausal symptoms
The spherical inflorescence of meadow clover contains valuable isoflavones that help women get through the difficult menopause. Hot flashes, sweats, sleep disorders and depressive moods become less frightening when you regularly drink meadow clover tea. Pour 250 milliliters of hot water over a teaspoon of dried flowers and let it steep for 10 minutes. The following video shows how red clover generally increases well-being:
Video: Meadow clover - medicinal plant from Mother Nature's pharmacy
Fruit
Each pollinated red clover flower turns into a tiny legume with one or two seeds. How to recognize the fruit of meadow clover:
- Fruit ripening: August to October
- Length: 1.5 to 4 mm
- Width: 1 mm
- Special feature: Seeds can germinate for 14 to 100 years
Ripe pods pop open with a lid and release the hard-shelled seeds. Grass eaters of all kinds as well as ants and earthworms are responsible for the spread.
Roots
Meadow clover thrives according to the motto: “The strength lies in the roots”. With roots up to 200 centimeters long, red clover loosens the soil deeply. The epically long root strands transport nodule bacteria that enrich the soil with nitrogen. Nitrogen is a main nutrient and is also called the engine of growth. This property makes meadow clover a natural soil activator. Sown as green manure, red clover prepares the bed for planting vegetables, perennials and shrubs that require nutrient-rich soil for magnificent growth.
Usage
Profile and explanations leave no doubt: meadow clover is a versatile crop from Mother Nature's treasure trove. So that you don't miss any possible uses for red clover, the following table provides a summary overview:
| Garden/Balcony | Kitchen | Medicinal plant |
|---|---|---|
| Green manure | Flowers for cold, warm dishes | against cough |
| Bee Pasture | Sprouts in salad | against rheumatism |
| Culinary herbs | Leaves/shoots for herb quark | to strengthen the circulation |
| Food plant for grass eaters | Flowers baked in batter | for blood purification |
Planting meadow clover – instructions for beds and pots
The easiest way to grow meadow clover is to sow it directly in the bed. For use as a culinary herb, ornamental or medicinal plant, we recommend cultivating it in a pot. The following instructions explain both options in detail and comprehensibly:
Planting time
The time window for sowing seeds outdoors is open from March/April to September. Although meadow clover seeds are frost-resistant, they cannot germinate in frozen ground. Sowing red clover in pots under glass is possible from February to October.
Location
A sunny to partially shaded location is ideal for growing meadow clover. The herbaceous perennial does not place any particular demands on soil quality. Deep, loose, permeable soil that is ideally calcareous and fresh and moist is advantageous. You can improve sandy garden soil with compost. In soil that is too acidic, adding lime raises the pH value to a favorable 6 to 7.5. Temperatures and exposure to wind are of secondary importance, because red clover also grows in rough locations.
Direct sowing
Good soil preparation paves the way for the germination of numerous seeds and the rapid growth of vital young plants. This is how you sow meadow clover in the bed correctly:
- Weeding, raking the soil into fine crumbs, smoothing it out with a rake
- Spread seeds (4 to 5 g/m²)
- Rake the seeds lightly
- Light germinators thinly sieve with sand (0.5 to 1 cm)
- Press or roll the soil with your hands
- Pour with a fine spray
When you sow, garden birds already have your eyes firmly on you because they are hoping for a feast. To prevent the seeds from disappearing into pecking beaks, please cover the seedbed with a protective net. When the seedlings have at least two pairs of tripartite leaves above their cotyledons, separate the strongest specimens at a distance of 15 to 20 centimeters.
Growing meadow clover in a pot
Meadow clover thrives beautifully on the windowsill in a medium-sized, extra deep pot with an opening in the bottom for water drainage. As a substrate, we recommend peat-free seed soil (€6.00 on Amazon) or herbal soil enriched with lava granules or expanded clay for good permeability. Reserve a handful of the inorganic grains for drainage to protect against waterlogging. How to do it right:
- Create a 5 cm high drainage on the bottom of the pot
- Fill in the substrate up to 10 cm below the edge of the pot
- Place seeds into the substrate at a distance of 3-4 cm
- Press the soil with a board to ensure a good seal to the soil
- Water with water from the spray bottle
In a bright, not full sun location, germination takes about a week at 15° to 20° Celsius. Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist and do not apply fertilizer. Sort out the weakest seedlings so that one or two meadow clover plants remain in the pot.
Caring for meadow clover – tips for hobby gardeners
The home advantage makes meadow clover an easy-care plant. Water the perennial whenever the surface of the soil or substrate feels dry. About 6 weeks after sowing, sifted compost soil in the bed stimulates growth. In subsequent years, fertilize red clover with compost in March and June. We recommend an organic liquid fertilizer to provide nutrients in the pot.
Meadow clover as green manure
When used as green manure, mow meadow clover after the flowering period. You can either work the leaf mass into the soil or compost the clippings. The roots remain in the soil, where they rot and release nutrients for the following crop.
Popular varieties
More color comes into play when you combine common meadow clover with its counterparts that enchant with white, yellow or pink ball flowers:
- Red meadow clover: Trifolium pratense, red clover, common meadow clover, perennial, upright, 15 to 80 cm.
- White meadow clover: Trifolium repens, white clover, perennial, creeping, 5 to 30 cm, flowering period May to October.
- Yellow meadow clover: Trifolium dubium, synonym of thread clover, annual, herbaceous plant, 20 to 40 cm
- Pale yellow meadow clover: Trifolium ochroleucon, annual, 20 to 50 cm tall, main distribution in the Mediterranean region
- Alpine meadow clover: Trifolium pratense spp. nivale with pale pink flowers, perennial, herbaceous, 10 to 50 cm.
FAQ
Can rabbits eat meadow clover?
Yes, because rabbits love to eat clover. Meadow clover in particular is rich in protein, vitamins, proteins and minerals. However, young animals should be introduced to the nutritious food in small portions so that digestive problems or colic do not torment their little tummies. In winter, dried red clover flowers provide a tasty variety to the menu.
What effect does meadow clover oil have?
Meadow clover oil is suitable for external use as a care product or massage oil. When applied regularly, flower oil is said to have a skin-rejuvenating effect. The skin cells are supplied with plenty of moisture and blood circulation is stimulated, which ensures an even, fine-pored complexion. You can buy meadow clover oil in drugstores or make it yourself from dried flowers with almond or olive oil.
I want to grow sprouts from meadow clover seeds. How does it work?
You can buy suitable meadow clover seeds from specialist retailers or harvest them yourself. To ensure that the seeds germinate, we recommend using a germination device. First, soak the hard-shelled seeds in lukewarm water or chamomile tea for 6 to 8 hours. Now sow the red clover seeds in the germinator. Water the seeds twice a day. At 20° Celsius, germination takes about a week. Use vegetable scissors to freshly cut the sprouts as an ingredient for salad, vegetables or soup.
Which parts of meadow clover are edible?
Flowers, leaves, shoots and seeds are suitable for consumption. Harvest the tender leaves and shoots in spring as an ingredient for cold and warm dishes, such as salad, herb quark, soup or vegetables. In summer, the flowers refine a crisp salad or are baked into dough as a snack. You can grow vitamin-rich sprouts from the seeds in autumn. In winter, dried meadow clover flowers as a tea ensure well-being and prevent menopausal symptoms.
