There are several types of clover, and depending on which one you choose, it can help the aesthetics of your garden in a certain way. However, it is not only a plant to look at, but also serves as a ground cover and improves the structure of the soil.
- What is a shamrock?
- Characteristics of clovers
- What types of clover to plant in a garden greenhouse?
- How to plant clovers?
What is a shamrock?
Before we go into the types of clover, let’s understand what the plant is. They belong to the legume family and are some of the easiest to grow, which is why they have become a favourite in domestic lawns.
On the other hand, clover is popular for attracting pollinating insects, such as bees, and does not need fertiliser to thrive. It is certainly one of the least care-intensive crops and does not even need to be pruned to maintain itself.
Characteristics of clovers
Some of its features are:
- It can fix atmospheric nitrogen, which is essential for plants.
- They are low maintenance and grow in many fertile sites.
- Ornamental clovers are very rustic plants.
- They can be planted in the ground or in hanging baskets.
- There are varieties with different shades.
- Its Latin name is trifolium repens, which means creeping three-leaved plant.
What types of clover to plant in a garden greenhouse?
If you have a garden greenhouse and do not know what to plant, these types of clover may be the best option. Here are some of them and their main characteristics.
White clover
White clover is a perennial plant, which is perfectly adapted to grazing meadows. It has creeping stems in dwarf varieties and more upright stems in ladino varieties. It is also quick to regrow after mowing or grazing.
Main features:
- It is mixed with grasses such as fescue and ryegrass for better grazing.
- It requires fertile soils and optimum temperatures of 24 °C.
- It is carried out between September and October, with doses of 1-2 kg/ha at a depth of 0.5-1 cm.
- They achieve a crop life of up to 5 years, with a high regeneration capacity after use.
- It needs non-acidic, non-sandy soils and adequate phosphate fertilisation. They are also light-demanding.
- Improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
Ingrown clover
Among the types of clover we also have the red clover. This is an annual variety, noted for its crimson flowers and erect shape. They are excellent for a single cutting in spring, as they regenerate quickly and are strong.
Main features:
- A single cut can be made in spring for high protein fodder.
- It adapts well to acid soils and tolerates light waterlogging.
- Excellent winter and early spring growth.
- They have good tolerance to diseases and pests.
- For sowing, they require a dose of 30 kg/ha, with a depth of 1.5-2 cm and sowing between September and October.
- Fixes nitrogen in the soil and improves forage quality.
Violet clover
In the case of red clover, it is a plant that adapts very well to autumn and spring. It has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years and has good nutritional value, as well as digestibility. It is usually mixed with Italian ryegrass.
Main features:
- It is ideal to have 2 or 3 cuts per year.
- It is usually tolerant of acidic and excessively wet soils.
- It is a high yielding spring crop with a high carbohydrate content.
- Sowing requires an associated dose of 3 kg/ha and sowing in autumn or spring.
- It has a high protein content that benefits animal nutrition.
Clover resupinatum
Clover resupinatum, also called Lightning, is an annual Persian clover. This plant has an early and strong growth that is well adapted to waterlogged or lightly saline soils. It is ideal for grazing and mowing.
Main features:
- Its main use is for hay, silage and grazing with two annual cuts.
- It is tolerant of saline and waterlogged soils.
- Early growth and good regrowth after cutting.
- Resistant to Clover Scorch, but vulnerable to rust and spider mites.
- Sowing requires a dose of 15 kg/ha, with a depth of 1.5-2 cm and sowing in autumn.
- Fixes high levels of nitrogen and improves the quality of mixed pastures.
Alexandria clover
To close with the types of clover, we have the Alexandria. It is an annual plant with erect growth. It is usually perfect for areas with a lot of rainfall and irrigation.
Main features:
- Its main use is for mowing with up to 4 cuts per year or frequent grazing.
- Tolerates heavy soils and waterlogging.
- It grows strong in winter and is luxuriant in spring.
- It is tolerant to diseases such as Phytophthora Root Rot and pests such as aphids.
- Sowing requires a rate of 30 kg/ha at a depth of 1.5-2 cm, with sowing in autumn.
- It provides high quality forage and fixes nitrogen in the soil.
How to plant clovers?
To ensure that your clovers are planted correctly, you should follow these steps:
- Put the substrate tablet in a plastic tray and moisten it by adding mineral water. Here it starts to grow.
- You can drain the water left over from the previous process and save it because it contains nutrients.
- Add at least 10 seeds. Ideally, cover them with a plastic lid to keep them moist.
- Remove the lid when you observe that the seeds are germinating and check when water is needed.
- Once the stems are 3 cm long, you can place them in a pot or in the soil you have set aside for this purpose.
One option for sowing clovers is to use garden greenhouses such as those from Fertri. Structures with suitable sizes and a lot of resistance to have a controlled cultivation.
The styles include: retunnel greenhouse, straight walles tunnel greenhouse, minitunnel greenhouse and MiniWideSpan greenhouse. Choose the one you need and start having beautiful and strong clovers.