Agricultural technology for growing Lucerna seeds
1. Variety selection
When choosing an alfalfa variety, the following factors must be considered:
- Purpose of cultivation: Alfalfa can be used as a fodder, melliferous or green manure crop. For each purpose, there are different varieties of alfalfa that have certain properties.
- Winter hardiness: Alfalfa is a frost-hardy plant, but there are varieties that are more frost-hardy than others.
- Resistance to diseases and pests: There are varieties of alfalfa that are more resistant to diseases and pests than others.
2. Soil preparation
Alfalfa is a light-loving and moisture-loving plant, so to grow it you need to prepare a sunny and well-drained place.
The soil for planting alfalfa must be fertile and neutral or slightly alkaline.
3. Landing
Alfalfa can be grown either by seedlings or by sowing seeds in open ground.
When growing seedlings, alfalfa seeds are sown in March-April in seedling boxes or containers. Shoots appear in 7-10 days. Seedlings are planted in separate pots or cups in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. Seedlings are planted in open ground in May-June, when the threat of frost has passed.
When sowing seeds in open ground, alfalfa seeds are sown in May-June, when the soil warms up to +15 °C. The seeding depth is 1-2 cm.
4. Plant care
Alfalfa is an unpretentious plant, but to obtain good growth and development, the following measures must be taken:
- Watering: Alfalfa is a moisture-loving plant, so during the growing season it is necessary to water the plants regularly, especially in hot weather.
- Fertilizing: During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
- Weeding: It is necessary to weed regularly so that they do not choke the plants.
- Loosening: It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil around the plants to improve aeration and moisture permeability of the soil.
5. Harvest
Alfalfa begins to bloom in June-July and blooms until the onset of cold weather.
Alfalfa is harvested during the flowering phase. Plants are mowed and dried.
Additional Tips
- To obtain earlier flowering, alfalfa can be grown as seedlings.
- To increase yield, alfalfa can be intersowed with other crops such as clover, peas or beans.
When choosing an alfalfa variety, the following factors must be considered:
- Purpose of cultivation: Alfalfa can be used as a fodder, melliferous or green manure crop. For each purpose, there are different varieties of alfalfa that have certain properties.
- Winter hardiness: Alfalfa is a frost-hardy plant, but there are varieties that are more frost-hardy than others.
- Resistance to diseases and pests: There are varieties of alfalfa that are more resistant to diseases and pests than others.
2. Soil preparation
Alfalfa is a light-loving and moisture-loving plant, so to grow it you need to prepare a sunny and well-drained place.
The soil for planting alfalfa must be fertile and neutral or slightly alkaline.
3. Landing
Alfalfa can be grown either by seedlings or by sowing seeds in open ground.
When growing seedlings, alfalfa seeds are sown in March-April in seedling boxes or containers. Shoots appear in 7-10 days. Seedlings are planted in separate pots or cups in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. Seedlings are planted in open ground in May-June, when the threat of frost has passed.
When sowing seeds in open ground, alfalfa seeds are sown in May-June, when the soil warms up to +15 °C. The seeding depth is 1-2 cm.
4. Plant care
Alfalfa is an unpretentious plant, but to obtain good growth and development, the following measures must be taken:
- Watering: Alfalfa is a moisture-loving plant, so during the growing season it is necessary to water the plants regularly, especially in hot weather.
- Fertilizing: During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
- Weeding: It is necessary to weed regularly so that they do not choke the plants.
- Loosening: It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil around the plants to improve aeration and moisture permeability of the soil.
5. Harvest
Alfalfa begins to bloom in June-July and blooms until the onset of cold weather.
Alfalfa is harvested during the flowering phase. Plants are mowed and dried.
Additional Tips
- To obtain earlier flowering, alfalfa can be grown as seedlings.
- To increase yield, alfalfa can be intersowed with other crops such as clover, peas or beans.