Light
Full sun
AtHomeGrower Plant Facts
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Alfalfa is a multi-season deep-rooted perennial legume cover crop added to Fill My Space, Plant Facts, Zones, and Plant Care.
Soil mixture
Deep, well-drained, near-neutral soil
Soil moisture
Moderate moisture, especially while establishing
When to chop or terminate
Terminate before seed set, then use the residue as mulch, compost input, or green manure.
Use in the garden
Long-term soil building and deep nutrient mining
Plant Diagnoser notes
Watch for yellowing leaves, brown tips, weak growth, pest residue, and soil that stays wet too long. Match symptoms against watering, light, soil drainage, airflow, and pest pressure.
Fill My Space tags
plant-type:cover-crops, category:cover-crops, cover-crops:enabled, fill-my-space:enabled, plant-facts:enabled, plant-care:enabled, tool:zones, cover-crop-group:legume, season:multi-season, light:bright-light, care:moderate, environment:outdoor, location:outdoor, suitability:outdoor, function:nitrogen-fixation, frost:tolerant, zones:3-9, zone:3, zone:4, zone:5, zone:6, zone:7, zone:8, zone:9, facts:alfalfa, plant:alfalfa, Outdoor, Full sun