How to Grow Crimson Clover
Trifolium incarnatum
Hardy Cool Season Single Harvest
Crimson clover is a hardy annual legume grown primarily as a green manure and cover crop. Sow in autumn for overwintering or early spring for a summer crop. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules, enriching the soil for the next crop. Dramatic crimson flower spikes appear in late spring and are exceptionally attractive to bees. Cut and dig in before or at flowering for maximum nitrogen benefit, or leave to flower for pollinators and then incorporate. Grows 30-50cm tall.
In your Leaftide garden 
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Season
- Cool Season
- Harvest
- Single Harvest
- Spacing
- 15 cm
- Height
- 45 cm
- Start from
- Seed
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low
When to Start
Direct sow outdoors as soon as soil reaches 10°C — typically early to mid spring. Hardy enough to tolerate light frosts.
Don't know your frost date? Find it here →
Growth Stages
Sow seeds
Day 0 Germination
~10 days Flowering
~180 days Seed to harvest ~180 days
Approximate days from start
Care Essentials
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Growing Conditions
Don't know your frost date? Find it here
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 15 cm |
| Row spacing | null cm |
| Mature height | 45 cm |
| Mature spread | 20 cm |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How far apart should I plant Crimson Clover?
- Plant Crimson Clover 15cm apart with nullcm between rows.
- Is Crimson Clover frost hardy?
- Crimson Clover is classified as Hardy.