Crimson- CLOVER
Cool Season - Legume
SOIL ADAPTABILITY:
Drainage: Poorly to well-drained soils
Fertility: Very Good tolerance of low soil fertility
pH Level: 5.5 - 7.0
Minimum Soil Germination Temp: 42°F
Sunlight: Good shade tolerance
SEEDING / GROWTH:
Dates: Anytime after last threat of spring frost
Seed 6-10 weeks before avg first frost
Rates:
Precision: Not recommended
Drilled: 12 lb/A , 1/4' to 1/2' deep
Broadcast: 15 lb/A
Aerial: 18 lb/A
Average seeds/lb: 149,800
Inoculate: Yes, crimson or berseem inoculant
Emergence: 3-7 days
Height: 12" - 20"
Drought & Heat: Fair drought tolerance
Fair heat tolerance
Flooding: Does not tolerate flooding
PROS:
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Attacts beneficial insects
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Tolerates most soil types
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Increases moisture holding capacity
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Soil builder
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Produces N ranging to 50-150 lbs/A
CONS:
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Secondary host to insects such as corn earworm adn cotton bollworm
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Early fall planting can result in crimson clover going to seed in the fall
With its rapis, robust growth, crimson clover provides early spring nitrogen for full-season crops. Rapid fall growth, or summer growth in cool areas, also makes it a top choice for short-rotation niches as a weed suppressing green manure. Crimson clover adds to the soil organic N pool by scavenging mineralized N and by normal legume N fixation. The scavenging process, accomplished most effectively by grasses, helps reduce the potential for N leaching into groundwater during winter and spring. In Hardiness Zone 8 crimson clover will overwinter dependably with only infrequent winterkill.