Cool Season Annual Cover Crops (Fall) : Crimson Clover

Fixes 80 lb of Nitrogen per acre, this cover crop is also great for grazing

Showiest of all the clovers with bright crimson spikes on 18 plants. Often used in landscaping and erosion control for its beauty, cold and shade tolerance, and reseeding ability. Is typically used as a cover crop in grain rather than row crop rotations, because it matures late. Good for use around plants in beds or containers to retain soil moisture. Also good for pastures and can easily be overgrazed. Animals love it. Raw seed requires Alfalfa-Clover inoculant.

Trifolium incarnatum

This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.

Cool Season Annual Cover Crops (Fall): Clover

Crimson Clover

Often used in landscaping and erosion control for its beauty, cold and shade tolerance, and reseeding ability. Clover blocks out weeds and produces an abundance of organic matter when tilled into the soil. Fixes Nitrogen, and is used as a cover crop in grain rather than row crop rotations because it matures late. Also good for pastures and can easily be overgrazed.

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Basics

Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual
Days to Maturity: 60-180 (Fall/Winter)
Growing Habit: -
Hardiness: Hardy

Can survive in cold temperatures (down to 10˚ F), but not as well as other cover crops.
Crops: Fall
Growing Season: Short, Long
Cultivar Type: Early
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm

Crimson Clover does best in cool, humid weather rather than extreme heat or cold (min. temperature of 10F). Seedlings require warmth during early stages of growth. Seedlings should be established 6 weeks before first frost date.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 10°F - 80°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 30°F

Most cool weather cover crop should be started when temperatures are still in the 60's to allow the plants to establish before winter, which also prevents Winterkill.
Start Indoors: No
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool)

Cover crops need full sun when growing in winter, as days are shorter and the sun is lower in the sky. If grown in summer many will tolerate light shade (though they grow best in full sun).
Water: Low

Most of these crops are not particularly drought tolerant and will need regular watering in dry climates (especially when germinating and getting established). However they are mostly grown during the winter when the soil is fairly moist, so don't usually require much irrigation.
Feeder: Light

You do not need to fertilize cover crop in established gardens, as there will be plenty of nutrients in the garden to meet their needs. Since you will be incorporating them back in to the soil, growing them doesn't remove any nutrients from the soil.

The leguminous cover crops also fix nitrogen and eventually add it to the soil.
Suitability: Tolerates light frost
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes

Can be used in a container around crops to retain soil moisture and gain nitrogen.
Attracts beneficial insects?: Yes
Color
Fruit Size: - "
Plant Height: 12.0 - 20.0"
Plant Diameter: - "
Hardiness Zone: -
Disease Resistance
Taste Profile: Do not eat Crimson Clover.
Rotation Group: Soil Builders and Cleaners: Legumes + Corn + Potatoes

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Plant Guide

Cool Season Annual Cover Crops (Fall) : Crimson Clover

Fixes 80 lb of Nitrogen per acre, this cover crop is also great for grazing

Crimson Clover

Basics