Blog by Nanelle Jones-Sullivan
I use Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum), a cool-season annual legume, as a winter cover crop. It is an attractive way to reduce soil erosion, suppress weeds and add nitrogen, and build organic matter in my soil. An important additional benefit is that it attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, including pea aphid and blue alfalfa aphid, which attract lady beetles and other predators.
Crimson Clover grows best between 40- and 70-degrees Fahrenheit and should be mown shortly after budding.
For me, this means I try to sow it around Thanksgiving. Sowing depth should be 0.5 inches, and this year I used a cultivator to make crosswise rows across the slope. I then covered the seed with shade cloth to discourage birds from eating the seed. I removed it in about two weeks. In some places, the shade cloth was a bit too heavy and removed too late, leaving some of the seedlings too long and pale.
I plan to cut it down in April, which is hard to do because that is when it is most attractive.
California Cover Crops Resources -Reasons to Use Cover Crops
https://ucanr.edu/site/california-cover-crops-resources/benefits
Crimson Clover Plants – Tips for Growing Crimson Clover As A Cover Crop
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/grains/cover-crops/crimson-clover-cover-crops.htm