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Red Clover Microgreens

Trifolium pratense

A tall (2-3'), quick-growing clover. Sow in spring, summer, or fall, alone or with grain/grass. Will grow in more acidic soil (pH 5.0-6.0) than other clovers if lime is applied at seeding time. Widely grown biennial used for Nitrogen addition and hay crops. Large plant with big leaves makes it an ideal grazing crop. Red clover may be the best choice for frost seeding; it is extremely cold hardy and does well in most soils and growing conditions. it does, like most clovers, perform poorly in hot weather unless seeded into a crop canopy. Incorporate fully for best results. Mammoth Red clover will fix between 70-110 lb. nitrogen per acre. The long taproots loosen soils and mine phosphorus and other nutrients from deep in the soil. It should be seeded with 48-64 lb. or 1.5-2 bushels/acre of oats to "nurse" the clover. Inoculate with Alfalfa/True Clover Inoculant (#7535) for best performance. Edible Flowers: The flowers of red clover may be used to garnish drinks, salads, soups, and desserts; the flavor is sweet and mild.

Harvest

8-12d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

3–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

6-24 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Harvest

Start Indoors

Harvest

Showing dates for Red Clover Microgreens in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 microgreen →

Zone Map

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Red Clover Microgreens · Zones 3–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SpacingDense sowing, 1-2 tablespoons per 10x20 tray

SoilFine potting mix or soilless growing medium

pH6.0-7.0

WaterHigh — consistent moisture needed

SeasonBiennial

FlavorMild, sweet, slightly grassy with subtle clover taste

ColorGreen leaves with purple-pink stems

Size70-110 lb.

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 4	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 5	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 6	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 7	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 8	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 9	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 10	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 1	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 2	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 11	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 12	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 13	January – December	—	—	January – December

Succession Planting

Red clover microgreens are a cut-once crop with an 8-12 day turnaround, which makes them one of the easier things to run on a tight indoor schedule. Sow a fresh 10x20 tray every 5-7 days for a continuous weekly supply — that cadence gives you a day or two of overlap so you're never sitting around waiting on the next tray. Because you're growing indoors, there's no seasonal cutoff; January through December is a real window, not a technicality.

The one thing that throws off the rhythm is ambient heat in summer. If your grow space climbs above 75°F consistently, germination stays fast but the greens get leggy and thin out sooner. In those months, bump your sow frequency slightly or plan to harvest closer to day 8 rather than letting trays run to day 12.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches, 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Each flower head is eventually replaced by a seedpod. The con contain 1 or 2 heart shaped seeds.

Color: Brown/Copper.

Garden value: Edible

Harvest time: Summer

Edibility: The leaves and you flowering heads are edible, raw or cooked.

Storage & Preservation

Store freshly harvested red clover microgreens in the refrigerator immediately, placing them in a container lined with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. They'll maintain peak quality for 5-7 days when kept at 35-40°F with proper humidity control. Avoid washing until just before use, as excess moisture accelerates deterioration.

For longer storage, gently wash and thoroughly dry the microgreens, then freeze them in ice cube trays with a small amount of water for smoothie additions. They can also be dehydrated at low temperatures (95-105°F) for 4-6 hours to create a nutrient-dense powder perfect for sprinkling on soups and salads.

Unlike mature clover, these tender microgreens aren't suitable for traditional preservation methods like canning or fermenting due to their delicate structure and high water content.

History & Origin

Origin: Eurasia

Advantages

+Edible: The leaves and you flowering heads are edible, raw or cooked.
+Fast-growing

Companion Plants

Tray neighbors matter more for logistics than for chemistry with microgreens, but a few pairings are worth the thought. Radish and mustard microgreens want nearly identical moisture levels and both germinate in 2-4 days, so you're not juggling mismatched watering schedules across your shelf. Pea shoots and spinach microgreens fit the same profile — steady moisture, no volatile compounds that muddy red clover's mild, faintly grassy flavor during a shared harvest window. Around here in our zone 7 Georgia growing spaces, stacking compatible trays is really an airflow problem: similar canopy heights mean no one tray is trapping humidity against another and inviting damping-off.

Sunflower microgreens are worth keeping physically separate. The hulls shed allelopathic compounds and hold moisture in a way that encourages mold growth on adjacent trays — a real issue when clover is already high-water. Fennel has documented chemical interference with neighboring seedlings, and that doesn't stop applying just because you've moved things indoors. A full tray's width of separation from both is enough.

Plant Together

Lettuce

Compatible growing conditions and harvest timing, good space utilization

Radish Microgreens

Natural pest deterrent properties protect clover from aphids and flea beetles

Pea Shoots

Both are nitrogen-fixing legumes with similar water and light requirements

Spinach Microgreens

Compatible growth rates and can be harvested together in mixed salads

Arugula Microgreens

Natural pest repellent properties and complementary nutritional profiles

Chives

Repels aphids and other small insects that can damage tender microgreen shoots

Cilantro Microgreens

Similar growing requirements and harvest timing, attracts beneficial insects

Mustard Microgreens

Natural fungicide properties help prevent damping-off disease in clover

Keep Apart

Sunflower Microgreens

Allelopathic compounds inhibit germination and growth of legumes like clover

Fennel

Strong allelopathic effects suppress growth of most other plants including clover

Black Walnut

Juglone compound is toxic to legumes and severely stunts clover growth

Nutrition Facts

Calories

69kcal(3%)

Protein

1.5g(3%)

Fiber

5.3g(19%)

Carbs

17.6g(6%)

Fat

0.1g(0%)

Vitamin C

54.1mg(60%)

Vitamin A

5mcg(1%)

Iron

1.61mg(9%)

Calcium

8mg(1%)

Potassium

304mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #167782)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Generally disease-free when grown properly with good air circulation

Common Pests

Aphids, fungus gnats (indoor growing)

Diseases

Damping-off if overwatered

Troubleshooting Red Clover Microgreens

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapsing at the soil line 3-5 days after germination, stems look pinched or water-soaked at the base

Likely Causes

Damping-off — typically Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi thriving in waterlogged growing medium
Poor drainage in the tray combined with overwatering between checks

What to Do

1.Pull the affected tray immediately and toss it — damping-off spreads fast and there's no saving a tray once it takes hold
2.Water from the bottom only: set the 10x20 tray in a shallow dish for 5-10 minutes, then let it drain fully before the next watering
3.Cut your water frequency back by one day and make sure your grow medium — coconut coir or a fine potting mix — isn't staying saturated between waterings

Tiny white or yellow insects clustered on stems around day 7-10, growth slowing noticeably before harvest

Likely Causes

Fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) — larvae in the growing medium damage roots; adults cluster on shoots
Aphids (likely Aphis fabae or similar) introduced through open windows or infested nearby trays

What to Do

1.For fungus gnats, let the top half-inch of your growing medium dry slightly between waterings — their larvae can't survive without constant moisture near the surface
2.Set yellow sticky traps flat at tray level to confirm which pest you're dealing with before doing anything else
3.If the greens are at 6+ days and usable, harvest now — red clover microgreens don't regrow after cutting, so an early harvest beats losing the tray to an infestation

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do red clover microgreens take to grow?▼

Red clover microgreens typically take 8-12 days from seeding to harvest. The exact timing depends on growing conditions—warmer temperatures (70-75°F) speed growth, while cooler conditions extend the growing period. You'll know they're ready when they reach 1-2 inches tall with small rounded leaves and purple-pink stems.

Do I need to soak red clover seeds before planting?▼

Yes, soaking red clover seeds for 6-8 hours before planting is essential for optimal germination. This process softens the seed coat and activates the germination process, resulting in more even sprouting and higher germination rates. Skip this step and you'll likely see patchy, delayed germination across your growing tray.

Can you regrow red clover microgreens after cutting?▼

No, red clover microgreens won't regrow after harvesting. Unlike some herbs that can be cut multiple times, microgreens are harvested at their cotyledon stage before developing true leaves. Once cut, the plants lack the energy reserves needed for regrowth. For continuous harvests, start new trays every 4-5 days.

What do red clover microgreens taste like?▼

Red clover microgreens have a mild, sweet flavor with subtle grassy notes and a delicate clover taste. They're much milder than mature clover leaves and lack any bitterness when harvested at the proper time. The texture is tender and crisp, making them excellent for salads, sandwiches, and garnishes without overwhelming other flavors.

Are red clover microgreens good for beginners?▼

Absolutely! Red clover microgreens are among the easiest varieties for beginners due to their reliable germination, fast growth, and forgiving nature. They're less prone to common beginner mistakes like slight overwatering and don't require special equipment beyond basic growing trays and a light source. Their quick 8-12 day cycle also provides fast results for new growers.

How do you prevent damping off in red clover microgreens?▼

Prevent damping-off by ensuring proper drainage, avoiding overwatering, and maintaining good air circulation. Use a well-draining growing medium, water from the bottom when possible, and run a small fan to keep air moving. Keep growing temperatures around 65-70°F and avoid covering trays too long after germination begins.