Alfalfa / Lucerne
Alfalfa / Lucerne
Medicago sativa
Plant family
Legumes (Fabaceae)
Season Overview
Sowing
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
1ST YEAR
Details
Light requirement
Sunny
Water requirement
Wet
Soil
Medium (loamy)
Nutrient requirement
Low
Seeding distance
5 cm
Row spacing
15 cm
Seeding depth
1 cm
Instructions
Description
Alfalfa is a perennial herbaceous plant and overwinters green. It reaches a height of 1 m and its root system can extend up to almost five meters. This gives it the ability to survive dry periods well. It also accumulates nitrogen in the soil and is therefore popular as a green manure. Alfalfa blooms from July to September in various shades of purple and attracts bumblebees almost exclusively. It can reproduce by seed as well as vegetatively.
Origin:
The plant was used as a fodder plant in ancient Persia.
Growing tips
If the soil is very poor in lime, additional liming is recommended, as lime promotes the activity of nitrate-forming bacteria. Since alfalfa grows very slowly, an early sowing date is preferable so that it can grow in well until winter.
Companion Plants
Antagonistic Plants
No antagonistic plants
Diseases
No diseases
Pests
No pests
