Medicago Sativa
Alfalfa (as green manure)
Alfalfa is a member of the pea family, grown as a foraging or grazing crop, or as green manure. The young plant looks like clover, having trifoliate leaves, but these elongate as the plant matures. The clusters of small, pale purple pea-like flowers are followed by clusters of seeds.
Contributed by @digitaldig
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Full sun
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Very little water
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Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)
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Medium to heavy
Common name
Alfalfa (as green manure)
Latin name
Medicago Sativa
type
Perennial
family
Fabaceae
ph
6.5 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral
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Light
Full sun
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Frost
Frost Hardy: 23F (-5°C)
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Soil
Medium to heavy
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Water
Very little water
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
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When to harvest
full grown dimensions
0.30 M
1.00 M
Medicago Sativa
Alfalfa is a member of the pea family, grown as a foraging or grazing crop, or as green manure. The young plant looks like clover, having trifoliate leaves, but these elongate as the plant matures. The clusters of small, pale purple pea-like flowers are followed by clusters of seeds.
Flowering
From Late Spring TO Early Summer
The clusters of mauve pea-like flowers appear in late Spring / early Summer
Planting
From Late Summer TO Early Autumn
Alfalfa is sown, rather than planted - usually in late Summer or early Autumn, preferably around 4 weeks before the first frosts. Sprinkle seeds on the ground at the rate of about 1/4 lb. seed to 25 sq. feet of ground, with rows about 2' apart. Cover the seed with soil. In cool areas seed is best sown in Spring
awomanonabike
digitaldig