Climate matters. This page is a practical baseline. Confirm cultivar, local frost/heat conditions, mature size and regional restrictions before planting.
Red Clover — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Trifolium pratense |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 5–10 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 4.4–23.9 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 60–90 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 2.5–5.1 |
| Mature height (cm) | 30.5–61 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 15.2–30.5 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 3–9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Broadcast inoculated seed onto a prepared bed at 8–10 lb per acre, raking to 1/4 in depth; red clover tolerates slightly acidic soils and moderate shade better than most legume cover crops. It overwinters in zones 4 and warmer and puts on vigorous growth in early spring, often topping 2 ft before bloom. Terminate at early flower stage — before the first florets open to brown — to capture maximum fixed nitrogen of 80–150 lb per acre. A second flush of growth often follows mowing, allowing a second cut of biomass before final incorporation.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0