Alfalfa: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how do you sow alfalfa outdoors?
Sow alfalfa, Medicago sativa, in sunny, free-draining ground with enough moisture for emergence. Choose a spring or late-summer period suited to your climate, avoiding cold saturated soil, forecast drought and starting too late before winter. This perennial needs to develop strong roots and a crown, not simply germinate quickly.
Check the soil first: acidic or waterlogged ground is unsuitable. A pH around 6.5–7 supports establishment. Correct acidity only after assessment rather than adding amendments automatically. Nitrogen fixation also depends on compatible bacteria and does not replace suitable growing conditions.
Remove competing weeds and prepare a fine but firm seedbed. Distribute the small seeds evenly at the rate appropriate to your forage or cover-crop use. Do not space them like transplanted vegetables every 20 cm. Cover shallowly, generally around 0.5–1 cm, and firm gently to ensure good soil contact.
Water carefully if needed and maintain steady moisture during establishment without waterlogging. Watch for weed competition and gaps in emergence. Do not automatically thin individual plants: aim for an even stand suited to its intended use.
When and how should you cut alfalfa?
