[Rate and Time of Seeding]
Under ordinary conditions 15 to 18 pounds of hulled seed will give good stands unless there is a deficiency of soil moisture. Depending upon the amount of foreign material 45 to 60 pounds of unhulled seed is comparable to a 15-pound seeding rate of hulled seed. Crimson clover may be sown from the middle of August until October 1 with the expectation of securing a good stand. The later it is seeded the less growth can be expected and the more readily winterkilling occurs. The early establishment of the plants becomes more important as plantings are extended northward. Seeding crimson clover, if possible, either immediately before or following heavy rains will increase its chances of making a stand. The spring planting of crimson clover in or south of the Corn Belt usually results in a short, stunted growth followed by meager blossoming and an unprofitable yield.
[Inoculation]
In many parts of the crimson clover region it is not necessary to inoculate the seed; but if clover has not been successfully grown on a soil, inoculation of the seed is good insurance. If the plants are not inoculated they will develop slowly, become yellow, and die. Inoculated plants are able to obtain about two-thirds of their nitrogen from the air through their root nodules. The plants may be artificially inoculated by applying pure cultures of the bacteria to the seed or by scattering soil from a field where inoculated crimson clover has been grown. Two hundred to three hundred pounds per acre of such soil evenly distributed at seeding time is sufficient.
[Unhulled Seed]
The use of unhulled seed offers the distinct advantage of increasing the chance of obtaining thick stands. With the prevalence of dry soil conditions, light rainfall does not cause the unhulled seed to germinate, but hulled seed germinates readily and the seedlings may die from lack of moisture before they can become established.
Its bulky nature makes unhulled seed more difficult to distribute uniformly than hulled seed. It must be broadcast and may be harrowed in. It is also difficult to market and is not generally handled by the seed trade. But farmers can harvest seed for their own use and save the expense of having it hulled.