Wiesenklee ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips + ideas for use

the essentials in brief

• meadow clover is a 15 to 80 cm tall, herbaceous family with a spherical inflorescence, tiny legumes and up to 200 cm long roots.
• Use options in the hobby garden: green manure, bee pasture, culinary herb, natural medicinal plant, fodder plant for grazers.
• Wiesenklee is grown as a direct seed in a sunny to semi-shady location in fresh, moist, nutrient-rich soil or in a pot on a bright window sill.
• Care tips: water when it is noticeably dry, biologically fertilize with compost in the bed or with organic liquid fertilizer in the pot.
• Premium varieties: red clover, red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover, white clover (Trifolium repens), yellow clover, thread clover (Trifolium dubium), pale yellow clover (Trifolium ochroleucon), alpine clover (Trifolium pratense spp. nivale).

Characteristics

• Scientific name: Trifolium pratense
• Family: legumes
• Growth type: herbaceous perennial
• Occurrence: Fat meadows
• Growth height: 15 to 80 cm
• Flowering time: April to October
• Flower shape: spherical to ovoid
• Flower color: red or white
• Fruit: legume
• Roots: Rhizome with tract roots
• Toxicity: non-toxic, edible
• Use: green manure, culinary herb, medicinal plant

heyday

The flowering period of meadow clover extends from spring to late autumn. The distinctive inflorescences from fat meadows and along the way modestly greet the passers-by. The following characteristics characterize the flower of Trifolium:

• inflorescence: many-flowered, globular, spiked-upright
• Size: 1 to 2 cm long
• Diameter: 2 to 3 cm
• Colour: red, less often white, pink or yellow
• Flower ecology: nectar-rich butterfly flower with folding mechanism (explicit for long-nosed insects)
• Special feature: edible

The heyday of Wiesenklee is a feast for bumblebees and butterflies. With their long proboscis, the pollinators can nibble on the nectar, which lures as a reward at the bottom of a 10 mm long tube.

digression

Wiesenklee relieves menopausal symptoms

The spherical inflorescence of meadow clover contains valuable isoflavones that help women through the difficult menopause. Hot flashes, sweating, insomnia and depressive moods lose their fright when drinking Wiesenklee tea regularly. Pour 250 milliliters of hot water over a teaspoon of dried flowers and leave to steep for 10 minutes. The following video shows how red clover generally increases well-being:

Meadow clover - medicinal plant from Mother Nature's pharmacy

fruit

Each pollinated red clover flower turns into a tiny legume with one or two seeds. How to recognize the fruit of meadow clover:

• Fruit ripening: August to October
• Length: 1.5 to 4mm
• Width: 1mm
• Special feature: seeds are germinable for 14 to 100 years

Ripe pods pop open with a lid, releasing the hard-shelled seeds. All kinds of grazers, ants and earthworms are responsible for the spread.

root

Wiesenklee thrives according to the motto: "The power lies in the roots". With roots up to 200 centimeters long, red clover loosens the soil deeply. The epic long root strands transport nodule bacteria that enrich the soil with nitrogen. Nitrogen is a main nutrient and is also called the engine of growth. This property makes meadow clover a natural one soil activator. Sown as green manure, red clover prepares the bed for planting vegetables, perennials and shrubs that want nutrient-rich soil for lush growth.

use

Profile and explanations leave no doubt: Meadow clover is a versatile crop from Mother Nature's treasure chest. So that you don't miss any possible use of red clover, the following table provides a summary overview:

Planting meadow clover - Instructions for beds and pots

The easiest way to grow Wiesenklee is by direct sowing in the bed. For use as a kitchen herb, ornamental or medicinal plant, we recommend cultivation in pots. The following instructions explain both options in detail and in a comprehensible manner:

planting time

The time window for the sowing by seeds outdoors is open from March/April to September. Although meadow clover seeds are frost hardy, they cannot germinate in frozen soil. Red clover can be sown under glass in pots from February to October.

Location

A sunny to partially shaded location is ideal for growing meadow clover. The herbaceous perennial makes no special demands on the soil quality. Deep, loose, well-drained soil, which is at best calcareous and freshly moist, is advantageous. You can use sandy garden soil to enhance with compost. In soil that is too acidic, adding lime raises the pH value to a favorable 6 to 7.5. Temperatures and wind exposure are of secondary importance, because red clover also grows in harsh locations.

direct sowing

Good soil preparation sets the course for the germination of numerous seeds and rapid growth of vital young plants. How to properly sow meadow clover in the bed:

1. weed weed, Rake the earth into fine crumbs, with rake straighten
2. Scatter seeds (4 to 5 g/m²)
3. Rake in the seed lightly
4. Sieve light germs thinly with sand (0.5 to 1 cm)
5. Press or roll the soil with your hands
6. Pour on with a fine shower

When sowing, garden birds already have you in their sights, because they are hoping for a feast. To prevent the seeds from disappearing in pecking beaks, please cover the seedbed with a protective net. When the seedlings have at least two pairs of their tripartite-pinnate leaves above their cotyledons, isolate the strongest specimens six to eight inches apart.

Grow meadow clover in pots

Meadow clover thrives on the windowsill in a medium-sized, extra-deep pot with an opening in the bottom for water drainage. As a substrate we recommend peat-free seed soil or herbal soil, enriched with lava granules(€14.00 at Amazon*) or expanded clay for good permeability. Reserve a handful of the inorganic grains for drainage to protect against waterlogging. How to do it right:

1. Lay a 5 cm high drainage on the bottom of the pot
2. Fill in the substrate up to 10 cm below the edge of the pot
3. Plant the seeds 3-4 cm apart in the substrate
4. Press down the soil with a board for a good ground contact
5. Top off with water from the spray bottle

Germination takes about a week at 15° to 20° Celsius in a bright location that is not in full sun. Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist and do not apply fertilizer. Sort out the weakest seedlings, leaving one or two meadow clover plants in the pot.

Caring for meadow clover - tips for hobby gardeners

The home advantage makes meadow clover an easy-care plant. Water the perennial whenever the surface of the soil or substrate feels dry. About 6 weeks after sowing brings sifted compost soil in the bed growth in motion. In the following years, fertilize red clover with compost in March and June. For the nutrient supply in the pot, we recommend an organic liquid fertilizer.

Meadow clover as green manure

In its function as a green manure, mow the meadow clover after the flowering period. You can either work the leaf mass into the soil or the clippings are composted. The roots remain in the soil, where they rot and release nutrients for the following crop.

Popular Varieties

More color comes into play when you combine common meadow clover with conspecifics that enchant with white, yellow or pink spherical flowers:

• Red meadow clover: Trifolium pratense, red clover, common meadow clover, persistent, upright, 15 to 80 cm.
• White meadow clover: Trifolium repens, white clover, persistent, creeping, 5 to 30 cm, flowering period May to October.
• Yellow clover: Trifolium dubium, synonym thread clover, annual, herbaceous plant, 20 to 40 cm
• Pale yellow meadow clover: Trifolium ochroleucon, annual, 20 to 50 cm in size, main distribution in the Mediterranean region
• Alpine clover: Trifolium pratense spp. nivale with pale pink flowers, persistent, herbaceous, 10 to 50 cm.

FAQ

Can rabbits eat meadow clover?

Yes, because rabbits love to eat clover. Wiesenklee in particular is rich in protein, vitamins, proteins and minerals. However, young animals should be accustomed to the nutritious food with small portions so that their small bellies are not tormented by digestive problems or colic. In winter, dried red clover blossoms provide a tasty variety on the menu.

What is the effect of meadow clover oil?

Meadow clover oil is suitable for external use as a care product or massage oil. When applied regularly, the flower oil is said to have a skin-rejuvenating effect. The skin cells are supplied with plenty of moisture and blood circulation is stimulated, which ensures an even, fine-pored complexion. You can buy meadow clover oil in drugstores or make your own from dried flowers with almond or olive oil.

I want to grow sprouts from meadow clover seeds. How does it work?

You can buy suitable meadow clover seeds from specialist retailers or harvest them yourself. In order for the seeds to germinate, we recommend using a germinator. First, soak the hard-shelled seeds in lukewarm water or chamomile tea for 6 to 8 hours. Now sow the red clover seeds in the germinator. Water the seed twice a day. At 20° Celsius, germination takes about a week. With a pair of vegetable scissors, you can cut off the sprouts fresh as an ingredient for salad, vegetables or soup.

Which parts of meadow clover are edible?

Flowers, leaves, shoots and seeds are suitable for consumption. Harvest the tender leaves and shoots in spring as an ingredient for cold and warm dishes such as salad, herb quark, soup or vegetables. In summer, the blossoms refine a crunchy salad or are fried in dough as a snack. In autumn you can grow vitamin-rich sprouts from the seeds. In winter, dried meadow clover blossoms as a tea ensure well-being and prevent menopausal symptoms.