Red clover is a short lived (typically 2-4 years), tap rooted legume most commonly sown in summer dry areas where summer grazing is less intensive. Wash the blossoms to get rid of any dirt and bugs. The iced tea is often used to soothe menopausal hot flashes. There is also white clover - usually smaller than red clover. It’s a super easy process with multiple benefits and of course tasty tea. It’s known scientifically as Trifolium pratense. Create a red clover flour and use it in baked goods. Your harvest could mold or mildew. Some of the local issues we've seen: If you don't crimp it, around here, it can take forever to dry and sometimes longer if the humidity is way up. Harvesting red clover, though, is somewhat complicated and should only be done with knowledge of the plant. By using our site, you agree to our. Make sure wherever you lay your harvest is not too moist or humid. I have some questions, if you don't mind. Every week, swish the alcohol around the jar to help extract the red clover compounds. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4f\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4f\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-1.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-2.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-3.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-4.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-5.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-6.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-7.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/50\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/50\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-8.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-9.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-10.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-11.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-12.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-13.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-14.jpg\/aid8829713-v4-728px-Harvest-Red-Clover-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, http://homespunseasonalliving.com/drying-and-using-red-clover/, http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/forages/hay-and-silage/harvest-management/cutting-management-of-alfalfa-red-clover-and-birdsfoot-trefoil/extension_publication_fileout, http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/forages/hay-and-silage/harvest-management/harvest-management-of-red-clover, http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Edible_plants/RedClover/RedClover.html, http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fch/sites/default/files/documents/pnw_612_storingfoodforsafetyquality.pdf, https://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers/EdibleFlowersMain.htm, http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/clover-soup-recipe-zmaz71mjzgoe, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Cutting and Processing Red Clover 1. After spending quite a bit of time searching for the “best” options, I settled on the glycerin bath. 2. Without taking steps to harvest red clover properly, you could harm the plant and decrease yields in the future. Red clover is high in calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamin C making it good as a bone building tea. What is the best way to cure red clover hay? I used my All-American Sun Oven to dehydrate the clover. Home » Gardening & Foraging » Foraging » Drying and Using Red Clover, Posted on April 20, 2019 By: Author Kathie Lapcevic. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take red clover because of the natural phytoestrogens found in the plant. Ground red clover flowers into a baking flour. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. There is however a 'crimson clover' depending on your location in the world that is more of deep red color. Popular mixture to achieve a balance of grass with white and red clover. When the flowers are completely dry and crispy, cut the flowers from the stems, place them in an airtight container and label the jar. The flowers are more purple than red. It still looks clear after two full days. Store your red clover in a place with temperatures lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) and 60% humidity. To harvest red clover simply snip the flower buds off above the first set of leaves. When cutting the leaves (or the flower), avoid cutting the entire... 3. I made some fresh red clover tea for jelly, but I haven’t made the jelly yet. Red clover has a penetrating tap root, which can be particularly aggressive in dry conditions. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Conversely on a fertile soil in a warm wet summer, it may need cutting as frequently as once every ten days. ... D Hoffmann writes 'Red Clover is a useful remedy for children with skin problems. Make sure rain has been somewhat regular before harvesting. Short video on 2 kinds of clover. Shop Red Clover Dried Herb 50g online at Neal's Yard Remedies UK. The flowers are used to make medicine. The white clover is edible and has some medicinal uses. Red clover is a herbaceous, short-lived perennial plant, variable in size, growing to 20–80 cm (8–31 in) tall.It has a deep taproot which makes it tolerant to drought and gives it a good soil structuring effect. Copyright © 2020 Homespun Seasonal Living | The Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Or a high red clover content sward, 15kg/ha (6kg/acre) of Red Clover. refrigerator before you make the jelly. Like other flowering plants, the process is somewhat simple. Light tasting fish work best. Cut fully open blossoms that are brightly colored, avoid browned flowers. I've got about 70 acres of clover/orchardgrass/timothy mix. Directions: 1. You could freeze the tea and then thaw when you're ready to make the jelly. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The fall blossoms aren’t usually as sweet. Red clover also contains the blood-thinning substance coumarin. It … Remove the clover with as much of the stem as possible. Red clover is a flowering plant and, like lentils and beans, a type of legume. These delicate flowering globes are powerhouses of nutrition and medicinal benefits. I have clover in my yard with red flowers and some with white flowers. Drying and using red clover is an easy and worthwhile endeavor for your home. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. I try not to handle the petals at all, just the stems. If you want to speed up the drying process, consider placing your harvest in a food dehydrator. It is sown as a fodder crop for livestock and has long been used in crop rotation systems because of its ability to fix nitrogen, enriching soils. Add the dry red clover flowers into the hot water in a heat safe vessel. Red clover flour is very popular for desserts, due to its sweet aftertaste. Drink 3 times a day. Its purplish flowers stretching up from the ground just begging us to pay attention. Red clover is one of those weeds that most of us see in our lawns, gardens, and parks. It relieves irritability of the respiratory tract, alleviating dry, irritable and spasmodic cough. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Spread the blossoms out onto dehydration trays or wire racks. Hope to hear back from you. On light soils in dry districts autumn sowings perform better as these will have well established roots capable of better growth in dry seasons. If the lavender colored clover is call "red clover," then what is the red colored clover called and what about consuming it? As a result, it is more difficult to obtain a satisfactory fermentation with red clover than with all-grass silage. Pick blossoms in the spring and summer for a sweeter flavor. Red clover is a common plant of all kinds of grassy areas in the UK, from lawns to pastures, roadsides to meadows. How to cook clover greens, make clover teas and medicines, and how to dry and story clover for later use. Taking red clover for menopause starts with information on the dosage itself. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. I don't know as much about the crimson clover other than a lot of folks use it for a cover crop in gardens but maybe knowing that there is a crimson variety can help you find what you need to know. I'm being sincere with these questions, not trying to be a smartass. "It's my first year of harvesting red clover (for health benefits), and I greatly appreciate this step-by-step. This article has been viewed 13,849 times. Red clover forage yield will vary depending on the stage of maturity at harvest. Fill a jar halfway up with dried red clover flowers. 2007 - 2020 Kathie N. Lapcevic. Place several red clover leaves on top of a sweet, creamy soup. I found a 5 leaf clover in my yard and I was very excited to preserve it. Using Red Clover Internally. Fill a double boiler or small cook pot with four inches of water. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Leave these trays sit out of direct sunlight. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Pour in the alcohol until it is about 2 cm from the top. Red clover mixtures can be undersown in an arable crop, or after harvest provided there is enough time for the plants to develop sufficiently prior to winter cold. The photo in this article appears to be lavender. The clover will be very delicate, but it is important it gets a few hours to dry. When harvesting red clover flower for personal consumption, cut the stem above... 2. I wouldn't let go much longer than 3 days. -1 ounce Red Clover blossoms (about a cup) -1 quart-sized jar filled to the top with hot water (just cooled from boiling) Directions: Fill your jar with the blossoms and cover with hot water to the top. Place the lid on the jar and allow the mixture to steep for 4-10 hours. There are some blood thinning properties to red clover so hemophiliacs and folks on blood thinners should avoid it as well. Do I only use the flowers? Here's how I store my herbs using glass Mason jars. Sprinkle red clover flower over vanilla or strawberry ice cream. As you’re walking around the yard and neighborhood, I hope you’ll considering bringing home some red clover to dry and use later. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 13,849 times. As soon as you pick the clover, remove it from the sunlight and keep it in a cool, dark place laying flat. Strain and enjoy. Thankfully, by timing your harvest and cutting and storing red clover properly, you'll master harvesting this useful plant. Hello, I just came across this article on Red Clover on Pinterest. Sow from March until September. On a dry sandy soil, it may only need cutting twice in the season. It smells beautiful when dried and makes a lovely, healthy tea as well! Pour coconut … This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. The other thing I've heard but not tested is that handling the blossoms to much with your fingers can cause them to turn brown. I highly recommend Starwest Botanicals. However, red clover is particularly sensitive to soil moisture conditions, and forage productivity can be limited with dry soil conditions. First, I thought red clover was, well, red. Sprinkle red clover flower and leaves over a sweet chicken or fish plate. The first mid-bloom of the year will typically be in the spring. Steep for 15 minutes. If they still appear discolored, uproot them. A dry, irritable cough will respond most readily to its influence' H Felter writes 'Trifolium is alterative and antispasmodic. When sowing red clover in a monoculture a seed rate of 12 to 15kg/ha ( 5 to 6 kg/acre). In our area, red clover (most often big red clover) is a pain in the neck to make into good hay. The flowers are sweetly flavored and perfectly suited for tea. Red clover dosage…I bet you didn’t know this! How to sow Cutting red clover at bud stage results in lower yield … Here is the most common Plantain (Major) you will see: or Plantago Lancealota (pictured … Red clover has also been used to treat coughs and respiratory system congestion, because it also contains resin. Make sure that herbs are covered completely … Soups that have mint, asparagus, or peas will benefit from the addition of red clover. If red clover doesn’t grow in your climate you can buy it. How long can the fresh strained tea stay in the After the requisite 5 day soak, my 5 leaf clover looked like a small, horribly rotted lump of spinach. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. The flower tops, however, are also used medicinally to treat several health conditions, but the actual benefits are disputed. Cut the stem above the leaf growth. This article has been viewed 13,849 times. I spread the red clover flower heads on a tray and set my dehydrator at 95° and let them dry for a few hours. In intensive grazing systems red clover typically does not perform or persist well. Like most herbs, harvest red clover blossoms early in the day when the dew has dried. They're dry once they feel crispy. Traditionally, red clover was used by Chinese, Russian and native Americans to soothe asthma and whooping cough.1 Like soya, red clover contains isoflavones – a type of phytoestro… You can also dry and ground red clover flowers into a fine powder/flour to be used to prepare baked goods. Red clover is a popular yet underrated flowering plant used for a variety of purposes around the world. Try like flounder, cod, whitefish, grouper or tilapia. Choose from our Range of Award winning, natural & organic, clinically proven Skincare, Beauty & Wellbeing Products. Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over 1 Tablespoon dried red clover blossoms. I usually just leave the trays sit in the dehydrator without turning it on. They definitely lose color. Harvesting red clover for square bales - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Hey folks. Incorporate red clover leaves into steamed vegetable dishes, like steamed spinach. Add red clover to spring or summer soups. Terry Martin. By the time its dry, leaves are falling off and leaves nothing but burnt blooms and hard stems.... Is it best when the clover is.thick to ted it out right.after we cut it, wait a day and then ted it...???? % of people told us that this article helped them. I finally found a Red Clover tea recipe for anyone wanting to use it , I found it on a website that hopefully will be useful http://wanderingendearments.blogspot.com/2016/09/wildcrafting-red-clover-uses-and-recipes.html?m=1. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. 10kg/ha (4kg/ace) of Red Clover, 15 to 20kg/ha (6 to 8kg/acre) of grass. Are you drying away from sunlight? Allow plants with discolored flowers or leaves to grow until the next season. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. How/when to pick and the benefits of clover. Screw the lid on tightly and store in a dark cupboard. It looks like your soup has the green clover portion of the plant. Last Updated: September 6, 2019 Very informative,straight to the point and insightful You do a great job! I think your question/answers are wonderful. Red clover can also be tinctured. You can link to this site as much as you want, but please don't use any content or photographs without my permission. For example, use some red clover flour in sugar cookies, pound cakes, or cup cakes. Thanks! Make an infused oil with the dried blossoms and then add beeswax to make a basic salve that is good for eczema and psoriasis. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department.

2020 how to dry red clover