When growing alfalfa for seed, the crop must be sown without a cover crop (alfalfa for hay is sown mainly with a cover crop). If alfalfa is sown without a cover crop, then the first month after germination it will be suppressed by weeds.
How and when to sow alfalfa?
Alfalfa can be sown in spring, summer and fall. … It is necessary to sow during the sowing of hardy cereals. This period ensures the maximum amount of green mass and hay in the first year of growth; Summer sowing can be carried out from June to July, after harvesting winter crops.
When to sow alfalfa in 2022?
The most productive and massive sowing period is spring. It should be sown during the period of sowing spring grain crops. In March, after the snow has melted from the fields, the ground is saturated with moisture and these are excellent conditions for alfalfa seeds. This period ensures the maximum amount of green mass and hay in the first year of growth.
How long does it take for alfalfa to germinate?
Depending on the temperature, alfalfa germinates within 5 to 19 days, respectively, the warmer it is, the faster it germinates. The first mowing can be done 60 to 70 days after the beginning of the spring growing season. Growth between mowings is 30-40 days, you can make 3 full mowings per season, and 5 if irrigated.