Variety field guide
What to expect from Clover Trio Cover Crop Mix Seeds
Clover Trio combines 35% crimson, 35% white Dutch and 30% medium red clover in a flowering cover for a small garden patch.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Clover Trio combines 35% crimson, 35% white Dutch and 30% medium red clover in a flowering cover for a small garden patch. Crimson is annual; white and red clovers can persist beyond one season. Their varied growth habits cover soil and offer blooms for visiting insects when allowed to flower. With compatible root bacteria, clovers fix nitrogen for their own growth, later returning some through decomposing residues. This small packet covers roughly 3-6 sq. ft.
Three useful clovers for a living patch of soil cover.
Growing facts
- Botanical name: Trifolium incarnatum, T. repens and T. pratense
- Maturity or display: Establishment and flowering vary; allow at least 30 days of growth before termination
- Mature size: Mixed low and upright clovers; height varies by species and stage
- Spacing: Broadcast at 1-2 lb per 1,000 sq ft; approximately 1,000 seeds cover 3-6 sq ft
About the variety
Crimson, white and red clovers have long been grown as forage and soil-building legumes. This blend brings their different life cycles together: crimson is annual, white Dutch is perennial, and medium red is usually a short-lived perennial. It is a multi-species mix, not a single cultivar with one uniform maturity date.
Starting seed
Broadcast in spring or late summer; rake in 1/8 in. and firm. Sprouts in 2-10 days at 65-80 F. Rate: 1-2 lb./1,000 sq. ft. Keep moist.
Care through the season
Prepare a firm, weed-free seedbed and keep the shallow seed zone moist until established. Use a compatible clover inoculant where appropriate; nitrogen fixation depends on a functioning root-bacteria partnership. Avoid waterlogging. For dense cover, broadcast rather than spacing individual plants. At the stated rate, this approximately 1,000-seed packet is intended for a small patch, roughly 3-6 square feet.
Harvest and use
Cut before seed sets. Mowing may not kill perennial clover; fully terminate roots before the next crop. Allow residues to break down before planting.
Saving seed
For soil-building use, terminate before mature seed forms. Seed saving requires separate collection and isolation appropriate to each clover species; harvesting the whole stand will not preserve the original blend percentages. Do not assume mowing has killed white or red clover, which can regrow.
Common problems
Seedlings compete poorly with established weeds. Watch for slugs, leaf-feeding insects and thin patches caused by dry soil or waterlogging. Perennial clovers can persist and self-sown plants may appear if allowed to seed. Fully end the stand before sowing a crop that needs a clean seedbed.
Frequently asked questions
When is it ready?
Establishment and flowering vary; allow at least 30 days of growth before termination.
How should I grow it?
Prepare a firm, weed-free seedbed and keep the shallow seed zone moist until established. Use a compatible clover inoculant where appropriate; nitrogen fixation depends on a functioning root-bacteria partnership. Avoid waterlogging. For dense cover, broadcast rather than spacing individual plants. At the stated rate, this approximately 1,000-seed packet is intended for a small patch, roughly 3-6 square feet.
Can I save seed?
For soil-building use, terminate before mature seed forms. Seed saving requires separate collection and isolation appropriate to each clover species; harvesting the whole stand will not preserve the original blend percentages. Do not assume mowing has killed white or red clover, which can regrow.
