Alfalfa Seeds

Medicago sativa, also known as alfalfa, is a perennial legume that is used as a forage plant or green manure for several years on uncultivated land. It can fix atmospheric nitrogen in its roots. This green manure loosens soil with its deep roots, limits weed growth, and combats soil leaching or rain compaction. Sow from March to September. It can remain in place for 4 to 5 years.

Alfalfa belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is an herbaceous plant, 30 to 70cm (12 to 28in) tall, with leaves consisting of 3 leaflets. Its clusters of violet flowers appear in July. It is distinguished by its deep roots, which help to loosen soil. Alfalfa is resistant to cold and drought. It prefers soils with a neutral pH or a tendency towards limestone.

Widely used in organically cultivated gardens, green manures have many advantages. They nourish and improve soil by providing various nutrients and stimulating the soil's microbial life. Their roots will loosen, aerate, and break up soil. In addition, the presence of a vegetative cover protects the soil from leaching (nutrient loss in sandy soil), rain compaction (crusting in loamy soil), and erosion (caused by runoff in steep terrain during heavy rain). This vegetative cover also helps to limit weed growth. Finally, green manures are often attractive to pollinators.

Green manures are sown on uncultivated plots or intercalary plots, between rows of vegetables. They are either naturally destroyed by frost or cut before seed formation. Once destroyed, they can be left in place as mulch, be crushed and incorporated into the top layers of the soil, or be collected and added to compost.