Crimson clover is also known as Italian clover. This annual is often used as green manure. It is also well suited for a naturalistic garden, a wild garden or a garden made for bees. The 4 cm long, dark red (crimson) flower spikes grow on long, thin, light green stems and are surrounded by hart-shaped lightgreen leaves with light harts. This somewhat hardy annual produces a lot of nitrogen and suppresses weeds. Annual. Height:: 30 - 50cm.
Outdoor sowing: march - may
Germination: 7 - 21 days
Germination temp.: 18 - 25°C
Sowing depth: 8 - 12 mm
Planting distance: 10 - 15 cm
Planting position: sunny
Flowering period: june - august
In case of using it as green manure:
Broadcast from march on in situ about 1½ grams of seed per square metre. Mix in with a little bit of sand to broadcast the seeds more easier. Press the seeds gently in or rake them in. Keep the soil moist during and after sowing. Remove any weeds to help the seedlings grow undisturbed. Cut or mow the plants just above soil level, after about 3 months, just before the crimson clover sets seed. After this you have to work the cuttings in the soil.
In case of using it as garden plant:
Sow from march on in a sunny spot in moist soil. Keep about 10 cm apart. Press the seeds in gently. Keep weedfree and moist. Thin the seedlings, when they're large enough to handle, to about 15 cm apart.
