Growing Alfalfa Is Easy and Fun

Alfalfa is one of the most versatile crops grown on the planet. Farmers and ranchers grow it as a superb forage food for livestock. Gardeners plant it for its rich, nutritious leaves and roots. Others sprout the seeds to get alfalfa sprouts, which are a common and delicious ingredient in salads and sandwiches. And as long as you follow a few basic rules, growing alfalfa can be easy and rewarding.

Before you start planting seeds, which are widely available from seed companies, it’s a good idea to have your soil tested. Alfalfa likes acidic soil, preferably 6.5ph or higher. If your soil is too neutral, the addition of a ph-raising fertilizer will help bring it into range. After the last frost has passed, plant your seeds around inch into the soil and keep it damp until they germinate. Intermittent watering will continue until the first harvest, in 70-80 days. After that, you can harvest your alfalfa every 30 days. It will self-seed and grow again the following year.

Other Options

Alfalfa grows easily, which makes it an ideal candidate for container gardening. If you just want small amounts of alfalfa grass to use as a dietary supplement, herbal remedy, or in salads, a few containers of alfalfa growing indoors or out is an excellent option that is both low maintenance and healthy.

If you just want sprouts, put a tablespoon of alfalfa seeds in a quart jar and cover with water. Keep the jar covered with cheesecloth or panty hose. Drain off the water the next day. Keep the seeds in a dark, cool room, rinsing and draining three times a day. After four days, rinse the seeds and put the jar in a sunny window. When the sprouts turn green, they are ready to eat!

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