Organic Alfalfa - Green Manure - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds

Alfalfa is a perennial legume cultivated as a forage crop and green manure. Like all legumes, it has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil while protecting it from rain leaching. It is known for its strong root system that helps to improve soil structure. It can remain in place for several years and can be sown from March to September, at a rate of 250 grams per 100 m2.

It is a plant native to western Asia, cultivated on all continents, up to an altitude of about 2,000 m (7ft). It prefers Mediterranean-type climates. It is widely cultivated for its protein content and its soil improvement qualities. The legume family includes plants that live in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. They become capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

Widely used in permaculture, green manures have many benefits: they enrich and improve soil structure while preventing the growth of weeds. They also provide a vegetative cover that protects clay soils from rain compaction and sandy soils from leaching. They can be sown throughout the year and are then chopped and incorporated into the soil by shallow digging or left in place as mulch.

Gardener's tip: Sow alfalfa with a cereal crop, as it will serve as a support and enrich the soil with carbon. Alfalfa can also be harvested to enrich your compost.

Organic or 'BIO' seeds are derived from plants grown using organic farming practices (without the use of pesticides). They undergo no post-harvest treatment. These seeds are intended for use in organic market gardening.