Alfalfa.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Einfach

Pflanzenart

Legume

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 7 bis 14 Tage

Endgröße

3 feet

Wachstum

Schnell

Winterhärte

USDA 3 bis 9

Blütezeit

Late spring to early autumn

Pflege

Ensure the soil drains well to prevent root rot in this moisture loving plant. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate poor drainage or nutrient deficiency. Keep the area free of weeds to help your crop thrive.

Gießen

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.

Düngen

Apply a phosphorus rich fertilizer if the soil tests low.

Schneiden

Harvest regularly to encourage new growth and prevent flowering.

Umtopfen

Usually grown in fields, but if in containers, refresh soil annually.

Boden

Well drained loam

Boden-pH

6.5 to 7.5

Temperatur

-30 bis 40°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

30 bis 70%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Hoch

Lebensdauer

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Gering

Sicherheit

Menschen

The plant is generally considered safe, though excessive consumption of seeds or sprouts can be problematic for some individuals.

Kinder

There are no specific safety concerns for children, though the seeds are small and pose a minor choking hazard.

Kontaktallergene

Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Allergene in der Luft

Pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in susceptible people during the peak bloom period.

Essbarkeit

Alfalfa sprouts should be consumed with caution due to potential bacterial contamination risks.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Compound leaves with three leaflets
• Small clusters of purple flowers
• Serrated edges on upper leaflets
• Deep taproot system

Höhe

0,3 bis 1m

Breite

0,3 bis 0,6m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

purple, violet, 0,5 bis 1cm

Früchte

brown, Late summer

Häufige Probleme

• Alfalfa Weevil — Larvae feed on the leaves and can cause significant foliage damage.
• Leaf Spot — Fungal infections cause dark spots on leaves, often during humid weather.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed

Pflanzzeit

spring, autumn

Überwinterung

The plant goes dormant in winter, so simply leave the foliage to die back naturally to protect the crown.

Im Kübel

Not ideal for containers due to its extensive taproot system.

Pair alfalfa with grasses to maximize soil coverage and forage quality.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Hafer — They are often grown together to provide a balanced forage mix.
• Bromus inermis — This grass provides structural support for the alfalfa stems.

Ähnliche Arten

• Black medic — It is a smaller, related legume often found in similar habitats.

Botanisches

Familie

Fabaceae

Gattung

Medicago

Ordnung

Fabales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

South-central Asia

Artenschutz

Alfalfa is a widely cultivated agricultural crop and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in open, sunny fields where its deep roots access moisture during dry spells.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

excellent nectar source, supports beneficial insects

Bestäuber

Bienen, Schmetterlinge

Verwendung

cover crop, livestock forage, soil improvement, culinary sprouts

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Does alfalfa need fertilizer?

It fixes its own nitrogen, so it rarely needs supplemental nitrogen.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It is better suited for garden beds due to its deep taproot.

Woher der Name kommt

The name Medicago comes from the ancient region of Media, while sativa means cultivated.

Gut zu wissen

• Alfalfa roots can grow up to 15 feet deep into the soil.
• The name comes from an Arabic phrase meaning best fodder.
• It is one of the most important forage crops in the world.

Auch in

• Trockenheitsverträgliche Pflanzen