How to Grow Alfalfa – Those living in chilly areas can plant alfalfa in the spring, while those living in milder climes can plant in the fall. Since alfalfa roots quickly, it does not require a deep planting—only approximately one centimeter (0.5 inches) deep.
Spread the seeds equally on the soil and lightly cover with earth. Use approximately 1/4 pound of seeds per 25 square feet and 18 to 24 inches between rows (46-61 cm.). There should be sprouts within seven to 10 days. Once seedlings grow between 6 and 12 inches (15-31 cm), thin them as necessary to prevent overpopulation.
Unless you are growing alfalfa as fodder for livestock, allow it to grow until the crops are ready to be planted or its purple flowers appear, at which point you can mow it down or leave it. The alfalfa shoots will disintegrate. This will then enrich the soil and promote microbial activity, therefore aerating it as well.
How long does it take for alfalfa to grow?
Controlling First-Year Alfalfa June 19, 2015 Alfalfa planted this spring is or will soon be ready for harvest. To maximize the productivity of these young stands, harvest them differently than established plants. Stems of seeding-year alfalfa are spindly, roots are little and shorter, and development is rather sluggish.
Alfalfa from the sowing year can be harvested as early as 40 days following seedling emergence. It takes plants around 40 days to recover from the crown after being clipped. If plants are cut before this development happens, sometimes to manage weeds, the plant must retain at least one pair of leaves in order to regenerate.
Although alfalfa seedlings can be harvested 40 days after emergence, it is generally recommended to wait until the plants are in the late bud to early bloom stage, about 60 days following emergence. With a little more development, yield will increase and plants will be better equipped to endure weather stress.
- This additional time also permits the roots to enter the soil more deeply, so preventing issues associated with soil compaction and top soil dryness.
- These first harvesting instructions may be sooner than preferred by some individuals.
- After this early cutting, however, the regrowth of seedling alfalfa will resemble that of mature alfalfa, allowing for two or three cuts the first year.
Additionally, it helps manage several weeds. One final point: never trim seed-year alfalfa in the four weeks preceding a lethal freeze. Due of the thinner root systems, winter damage might be significant. Bruce Anderson, Extension Specialist in First-Year Alfalfa Management
2. Choose smart planting dates. There is a wide variety of suggested sowing dates for alfalfa. In the Upper Midwest, alfalfa fields can be sown between mid-April and the end of May. Even in early June, the northernmost dairy areas may still be appropriate.
- As with every seed, soil temperature and soil moisture are two of the most crucial germination parameters.
- Too-early seeding in too-cold circumstances inhibits seedling emergence, can lead to seed rot, and increases the likelihood of low stand density.
- If you plant alfalfa seeds too late, there may not be adequate moisture in the top layer of soil, making it more difficult for them to emerge.
If you have land accessible for alfalfa in the late summer, the best sowing dates are between July 15 and August 15 in the Upper Midwest and closer to July 15 in the northernmost regions. It is permissible for gardeners in warmer areas to sow seeds until early September.
How long do alfalfa seeds take to germinate?
Alfalfa seed germinates optimally between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Alfalfa requires six days to germinate at 40°F soil temperature, but just two days at 65°F.
Do I need to soak alfalfa seeds?
How to Sprout – I recommend beginning your first batch of sprouts in a clean, wide-mouth pint- or quart-sized mason jar with a sprouting cover made of sturdy plastic or stainless steel. The mesh pores on the lid should be large enough to allow water to drain quickly, but small enough to prevent alfalfa seeds from escaping during rinsing.
- A second layer of cheesecloth secured with a loop of sisal kitchen twine can also be used.
- However, if you find that you enjoy producing your own sprouts and wish to do it frequently, you will likely choose to use a permanent, reusable sprouting top rather than cheesecloth.
- To keep your equipment clean and safe, ensure that any lids you purchase are both food-grade and dishwasher-friendly, and that they fit wide-mouth mason jars.
Additionally, avoid sprouting bags made for much bigger seeds, such as mung beans, and ensure that any lids have mesh openings small enough to keep alfalfa seeds within. Plastic Sprinkling Cap True Leaf Market provides an affordable sprouting lid made of food-grade plastic, as well as one made of stainless steel that is curved at the top for optimal ventilation.
Wide Mouth Stainless Steel Sprouting Lid After placing 1.5 teaspoons of seeds to the bottom of a quart-sized jar, screwing on the lid (or securing the cheesecloth to the top), and soaking, washing, and draining the seeds many times, you will have a batch of sandwich toppers ready in a couple of days.
Rinse alfalfa seeds in a jar with the lid on, pour off the rinse water, refill the jar to roughly three times the depth of the seed layer, set it in a dark location, and let the seeds soak for eight hours or overnight. Then, follow the steps given in the Sprouting 101 encyclopedia on our sister site, Foodal.
As you acquire skill, you may like to begin sprouting various types of seeds or alfalfa-based combinations. Additionally, you may like to invest in more comprehensive kits, grow lights, and heat pads. Start with a project that is more doable before considering the myriad methods to produce pounds of the substance each week.
Instructions for cultivating the microgreen variant are forthcoming.
