Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu
Researchers at Clemson University showed that the use of ladino clover can be an effective living row middle cover crop for row middles in plasticulture in organic production.
We believe this system could be used in all plasticulture crops with some advance planning.
Ladino clover spreads via stolons and can fill in row middles over time, smothering out weeds and allowing for full cover of row middles. It will not creep up the sides of the plastic but will fill in up to the tucks.
To be successful, follow these guidelines:
- Plant the whole field to ladino clover in September at a rate of 10 lbs per acre using a small seed drill. Inoculate seed with appropriate clover Rhizobium. We prefer the Regal variety.
- Till beds in the spring where plastic is to be laid.
- Limit traffic initially until the clover closes the row middle. If stands are light, wait to plant plastic until the clover has filled in the row middle.
Ladino Clover will form a dense mat that will outcompete weeds in row middles as a living mulch.
Stolons (creeping stems) of ladino clover will fill in areas quickly.