🌱 Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
cover-crops
herbaceous perennial legume
Fabaceae (Legume)
☀️ Sun
Full sun
💧 Water
Low, medium once established; extremely drought-tolerant with 3, 6 foot+ taproot
🗺️ Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
🧪 Soil pH
6.5, 7.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
🪴 Soil Type
Deep, well-drained loam; tolerates sandy and clay-loam with good drainage
🚿 Drainage
Well-drained essential; will NOT tolerate waterlogged soil , root rot and winterkill
📏 Spacing
Broadcast at 15, 25 lbs/acre; 6, 12 inch row spacing for seed production
📐 Height
2, 3 feet
⏱️ Maturity
60, 70 days to first cutting; perennial for 3, 7 years
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Sprouts (salads, sandwiches , most common edible form)
🍽️ Young leaves (cooked like spinach)
🍽️ Flowers (tea)
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (8)
🤝 Brassicas (Broccoli, Kale)
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
🤝 Orchard Trees
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
🤝 Squash / Pumpkin
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
Sunflowers benefit from alfalfa's beneficial insect support in rotation; deep roots bring up minerals for seeds.
🤝 Timothy Grass
Alfalfa-timothy is classic hay mix; timothy provides fiber while alfalfa provides protein for balanced forage.
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
⚠️ Acidic soils (pH < 6.0)
Alfalfa performs very poorly in acidic soil; nodulation fails and plants become chlorotic , lime essential.
⚠️ Competing tap-rooted perennials
Other deep tap-rooted plants reduce alfalfa stand vigor; establish clean seedbed before planting.
⚠️ Weedy fields at establishment
Alfalfa seedlings are weak competitors; heavy weed pressure causes stand failure , use nurse crop or pre-plant weed control.
💊 Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Properties
- Phytoestrogen isoflavones studied for menopause symptom relief
- Cholesterol-lowering effects from saponin content
- Rich in vitamins A, C, E, K and minerals calcium and iron
- Traditional use: digestive tonic, arthritis relief, blood purifier
📝 Growing Notes
Premier nitrogen-fixing cover crop , fixes 150, 250+ lbs nitrogen/acre/year. Deep taproot (up to 20+ feet) mines subsoil nutrients. Excellent livestock forage. Requires rotational grazing to prevent bloat. Cut 3, 5 times per season.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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