White clover

Cover crop · cool season · also called dutch clover, microclover, clover

A white clover flower in a lawn
Photo: Siddharth Patil, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

When to plant

  • Sow seeds outdoors about 3 weeks before your average last spring frost.
  • It can also be grown as a fall crop, timed back from your first fall frost.
  • Ready to harvest about 70 days after planting.

A low living mulch for paths and between beds. Mow to keep it tidy; it adds nitrogen and feeds bees.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Enter your ZIP code to get exact dates.

Growing basics

Not edible.

Sun
Part sun (4–6 hours)
Spacing
Broadcast
Soil temperature
At least 40°F
Time to harvest
About 70 days
Plant family
Bean and pea family (legumes)
Seeds keep
About 3 years

Companions

Keep apart: the onion family (alliums). Onions and garlic can stunt beans and peas.

Keep apart: Sunflower. Sunflowers release compounds that can slow beans.

Pests and problems

Grow it well

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