Clover Seeds: Latest Prices and a Detailed Guide to Planting Methods

Clover, also known as shamrock, trefoil, and sweet clover, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Trifolium in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated worldwide and grows semi-wild in moist grasslands, along riverbanks, and by roadsides. The countries that have bred the most forage varieties include Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Now let us take a look at clover seed prices and planting methods!

How much does a jin of clover seeds cost?

The price of clover seeds is about 20 to 30 yuan per jin, but prices vary widely depending on seed quality, variety, and place of origin. Clover prefers a moist and warm climate, is relatively drought-tolerant and cold-tolerant, and is suitable for growing in well-drained, calcium-rich clay soil. Its growth cycle is generally 2 to 6 years, and under warm conditions it is often shortened to a biennial or annual. After sowing, seedling management lasts about 30 to 50 days.

How are clover seeds sown?

1. Sowing time: The best time to sow clover seeds is in spring and autumn. The optimum growth temperature is 19 to 24 degrees C. For spring sowing, this can be done from late March to late April, and sowing can begin once the temperature stays above 15 degrees C. Autumn sowing generally starts in mid-to-late September.

2. Seed treatment: Before sowing clover, the seeds should be soaked. For every 1 kg of seeds, add 1.5 kg of water plus 1 g of ammonium molybdate and soak for 12 hours. Then mix 5 to 10 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer with 5 to 10 kg of fine soil or yellow sand and sow after mixing evenly.

3. Sowing methods: Clover can be sown in various ways, either alone or mixed with other species, and either in rows or broadcast. For artificial grassland, sow 0.4 to 0.5 kg per mu. Sow at a depth of 1 to 2 cm in moist conditions, and note that sowing too deep makes emergence difficult.

How is clover planted and managed?

1. Intertillage and loosening the soil: After sowing clover and before emergence, if the soil becomes compacted, harrow and rake it promptly to break up the compacted layer and help the seedlings emerge. Where seedlings are missing, reseed in autumn to restore grassland productivity.

2. Timely weeding: Clover grows slowly at the seedling stage and is easily invaded by weeds. During the seedling stage, intertill, loosen the soil, and weed 1 to 2 times. In the 2 to 3 years after the grass layer forms and covers the ground, large weeds should be removed promptly.

3. Water and fertilizer management: In spring and autumn, before regrowth and before regrowth after grazing or mowing, clover should be topdressed in combination with loosening the soil, applying 20 to 25 kg of superphosphate per mu. Where irrigation is available, irrigate when the soil is dry or together with topdressing.

4. Pest and disease control: Clover has few diseases, but if harvest is delayed, brown spot and powdery mildew sometimes occur. It can be cut and used first, then controlled with Bordeaux mixture, lime sulfur mixture, or carbendazim.

5. Mowing and utilization: When clover is sown in September, it buds and flowers in April of the following year and reaches full bloom in mid-May. When the grass layer is 15 to 20 cm high during the flowering period, this is the suitable time for mowing and utilization. After cutting, a second growth of grass layer can quickly form and cover the grassland.