Red clover

[topground]

I have a limited amount of red clover in permanent pasture which is now in flower. How long will it take to produce viable seeds. I would like to see it spread.

 

[Great In Grass]

Have you cut it this year?

 

[topground]

Have you cut it this year?

No, it is in a paddock rotation and is unlikely to be cut.

 

[Great In Grass]

One problem than can arise is that if the clover is not cut the flowers get to 'truncated' (for the want of a better word) and bees find it hard to get to the pollen thus pollination does not take place and the seed becomes unviable.

Seeds not expensive and because it's small you get quite a lot in a kilo, it may pay to drop into your local merchant and pick up a kilo.

 

[JD-Kid]

have you got bumble bees or long tounge bee's if not red clover will have a poor seed set .. honey bee can at a push do it but get knocked around so tend to find another food sourse

if you can leave it for as long as possable then rub out some heads are seed in there could be worth keeping it locked up then you would have to mob stock it once seeds dry
if low number of seeds graze it not worth the wait or loss of feed value

red is realy only a short term clover used to add it to perm mixes but better line up in whites with less animal health probs , reds in short term hybred grasses or chicory , white , herb mixes for fatterning works OK once again 3-5 years tops even then has to be some of the longer term breed reds