Red, white, alsike clover...what's the difference?

[cc-rider]

I need to plant SOMETHING in the back 3 acres. Used to be corn field. I will eventually let the chickens and a couple pigs on it.

What should I plant (and when)? I'm in NW Ohio. I know the chickens LOVE clover. I'd also like to plant buckwheat...just to be able to have some flour. Anything else I should plant there? Alfalfa? Timothy?

Chris

[unioncreek]

Chris,

Go to this link http://farmmart.com/Pages/SeedManual/SeedManual.pdf and it will give you info on the different clovers.

Bobg

[cc-rider]

Originally Posted by unioncreek

Chris,

Go to this link http://farmmart.com/Pages/SeedManual/SeedManual.pdf and it will give you info on the different clovers.

Bobg

Oh my gosh! That's a wonderful resource! I didn't realize there were so many kinds of plants.

What would you recommend to plant in a field that will be used for grazing pigs and chickens? I thought a couple different types of clovers, maybe oats mixed in? I also thought timothy, but it is pickier about where it grows. This is very wet, clay, soil.

I wanted buckwheat, but it is a "summer" crop. I'll plant it elsewhere.

[dcross]

Don't bother with alfalfa on a wet clay soil.

[rambler]

Originally Posted by dcross

Don't bother with alfalfa on a wet clay soil.

That's all I have to work with, and need 18 acres or so of alfalfa. It works, the the very lowest areas get thin. You also need to select the right type of alfalfa, some do real poor in wet clay, others do pretty good.

There are some good pasturemixes that local seed places mix together for you. I'm not sure if they are appoperate for chickens & pigs - might have more grass in them for cattle & horses - but sure would be a good starter mix.

--->Paul